Dosy Bikes revolutionized women's mobility in Egypt by introducing a digital transformation platform serving as a hub for education, equipment, and empowerment. Not only did the platform offer bike-riding lessons but it also facilitated the direct rental and purchase of bikes through partnerships with suppliers, making biking accessible and eliminating accessibility barriers. Additionally, the platform enabled women to sign up as trainers, building a self-sustaining community.

The platform addressed societal challenges with practical solutions, engaging women in every step of their journey.

User-generated stories acted as free social ads, drawing global and regional media attention without no marketing expenditure.

A HARSH REALITY UNFOLDS FOR MID-TO-LOWER INCOME EGYPTIAN WOMEN:

Egyptian streets and public transportation should be pathways to opportunity for young Egyptian women, opening doors to education, work, and social engagement. But instead, they have become barriers overshadowing their journey with intimidation and anxiety.

99.3% mid-to-lower income women in Egypt have experienced some form of sexual harassment on the streets in public spaces, including on public transportation.

86% of women have experienced harassment on public transportation, including verbal harassment, groping, or other forms of assault.

EGYPT'S ECONOMIC STRUGGLES AND THE RISING IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN'S EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT AMIDST HARASSMENT CONCERNS:

Amidst the backdrop of persistent harassment, Egypt has faced three significant waves of currency devaluation, triggering a cost-of-living crisis.

During these tough economic times, the importance of advancing women's education and employment has never been more crucial. Empowering women to pursue further education and enter the workforce is essential for their independence and for providing financial support to their families.

NAVIGATING THROUGH FEAR: THE EVERYDAY CHALLENGE FOR EGYPTIAN WOMEN:

Every day, navigating public spaces and transport systems is a daunting experience for young Egyptian women, particularly those from middle-to-lower-income backgrounds.

In a challenging economy, where buying or renting cars isn't feasible, these women face limited choices. Staying home for safety isn't an option when education and earning a living are essential.

They remain caught in a relentless everyday dilemma - compromise on their safety on streets or compromise their education and livelihood.

Most end up compromising on their own freedom from the fear of and the reality of harassment on the streets in their cities.

DOSY, A NEW SOCIAL ENTERPRISE, FORMED BY TWO YOUNG EGYPTIAN WOMEN WANTED TO HELP:

And we needed to help transform streets from spaces offering threat of harassment everyday into spaces promising opportunity and independence every day.

We targeted middle-to-low-income women in Cairo and Alexandria, who often bear the financial burden of their households. With 37% of Egyptian households relying on female earners and the economic strain intensified by currency devaluation, the pressure on women to support their families has never been greater.

With 86% of women facing harassment on public transportation, the streets became zones of fear rather than freedom, and they had no choice to choose their safety.

Harassment on the streets and in public in public transport wasn't merely an infringement on these women’s’ safety- but a barrier to their freedom, limiting their choices and their ability to fully realize who they can be.

As a social enterprise, it was crucial to shift the streets who have become a space of fear for those women to a space where women feel free, empowered, and ready to unleash their full potential: freedom.

We invited women and young girls to learn how to drive bikes to work or studies, in a country where it’s uncommon for women to be spotted on motorcycles.

And FREEDOM was at the heart of it all though a simple online platform.

EDUCATE

The online platform connected those who needed support, with female trainers to help them learn, with a variety of lessons ranging from 18 dollars to 112 dollars, making it not only convenient, but affordable too.

EQUIP

The platform provided access to partner companies where they could rent or buy a bike with cost-effective and affordable schemes to dissolve accessibility barriers.

EMPOWER

We even revealed new professional pathways. Women were supported to earn additional income through taking on jobs as bike trainers to other women which kept the empowerment cycle going.

Over 16,000 young Egyptian women have participated in our initiative.

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with a 98% positive sentiment rating.

We reached 73% of the Egyptian population, sparking significant interest and dialogue.

Our efforts garnered unprecedented local and global media coverage, generating $2.9 million in earned media value with $0 media budget.

User-generated content led to a 500% increase in media and social mentions for Dosy, the parent company, in 2023 vs. 2022, providing Dosy Bikes with free social ads.

Notably, we received organic endorsements and participation from celebrities and from male influencers, who supported the cause by creating online bike tutorials for women.

Our project earned awards and significant funding, highlighted by recognitions such as the “We Empower” UN SDG Global Challenge 2023, The Halcyon Intensive MENA 2023, and acknowledgment by UN Women & the Canadian Embassy in Cairo in 2023.