Episode 116: Saving Lives And Empowering Women Through Bikes | Belen Ramirez Bourdages | Co-Founder, Project Bike Love
Belen Ramirez Bourdages is a family physician with Doctors Without Borders and the co-founder of Project Bike Love, a nonprofit providing bikes to women and girls around the world. Her work has taken her from Paraguay to South Sudan, Yemen, Nigeria, and beyond, delivering medical care where it’s needed most and creating opportunities for women to access education, work, and independence through reliable transportation. Belen shares what it’s like to serve in some of the most challenging environments on the planet, why cycling has become a tool for empowerment, and how her love for sport has opened unexpected doors. She offers a rare, personal look into the resilience, hope, and human connection that drive her work, and how anyone can make an impact, no matter where they start.
“The thing is always knowing how blessed and lucky we are.”
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Follow along using the Transcript
Chapters:
00:00 Meet Belen Ramirez Bourdages
04:00 From Paraguay to Global Humanitarian Work
07:30 Life as a Family Physician with Doctors Without Borders
10:50 Countries That Have Shaped Her Career
14:20 Why Returning Home Can Be the Hardest Part
16:30 Founding Project Bike Love
20:10 The Power of Bikes for Women and Girls
24:00 Partnering with Local Communities for Impact
27:40 Lessons from Working Across Cultures
31:20 Women Who Inspire Her to Keep Going
35:00 Building Confidence Through Sports and Adventure
38:10 Navigating Language and Cultural Barriers
41:30 Balancing Medicine, Nonprofit Leadership, and Life
45:00 Advice for Those Who Want to Serve Globally
48:20 How to Support Project Bike Love and Get Involved
It's a coming back home that is difficult for me, and I learned to live in these different worlds, but I go to places where people have nothing. I go to places where the kids have to go and walk 5K to gather water and bring the water and do their dishes, and then I'm just playing with them and they're just happy because I'm playing with them.
That's be Ramirez Bordash, and this is The Powerful Ladies Podcast.
Hey guys, I'm your host, Kara Duffy, and in this episode you get to meet the powerhouse that is be. She's the co-founder of Project Bike Love, a non-profit that provides reliable independent transportation to women and girls around the world. And she's also a doctor who travels the world on missions with Doctors Without Borders.
And this episode, she shares her journey from Paraguay to international citizen while being a doctor and helping those most in need is what drives her and how her passion for sport and bikes has opened doors she never imagined. Before we jump into this episode, I wanted to ask you, are you considering starting your own business but not sure where to begin?
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Well, welcome to the Powerful Ladies podcast.
Thank you. Hi, Kara. Hi. To Be
Here. Yeah. I'm so excited to talk to you this morning. Um, let's begin. Please tell everybody who you are and what you're up to in the world.
Well, my name is Bela Bela Ramirez. Mm-hmm. I am a doctor, I'm a family physician. I work with organization, doctor Will Borderers, I've been working with.
Mm-hmm. Uh, we call it, if I. MSF means Mesan San Frontier. So that's why we use MSF. So I've been working with MSF for, since 2010 now. Mm-hmm. Um, I, so that's, that's mainly it. When I, I called, uh, Southern California home. Uh, I'm based here, but I'm always around. I just came back from Honduras. I went for a three months mission in Honduras, and I also have, and that's how I made, uh, met Carra.
I co-founded an organization called Project Bike Love. Uh, so I'm a bike enthusiast. I'm a, uh, women in power. So that's, that's me. Just
a few things. Mm-hmm. Um, well, I'd love to tell people who don't know what, what is Doctor Without Borders and how does it work and what does that mean you have qualifications for, so that you can go on those trips?
Yeah. So, uh, Dr. We Borders, we're a medical humanitarian organizations. We are in over 7,000, uh, countries. So right now we have over 142 projects around the world. Uh, we actually we're 50 years this year. We're gonna be 50 years. Uh, we're gonna have, uh, yeah. So we were born in 1971. We won a Nobel Prize in, uh, 1999.
Uh, I always explain people when they ask me, it's like, what it, you can only be a doctor to work with Dr. Whale Borders. Mm-hmm. And know we're a medical organization, meaning that we do everything related to health. But we need people, we need logisticians and people working in hr. Uh, so it's not only doctors, thank God, because otherwise that was not gonna work.
Uh, no. Uh, humanitarian is because we go to places where most people don't want to go. Uh, it's, it's where there are vulnerable peoples. We work at a lot of places where I've been working. It's, uh, war. There are, there is war. And it's not that we like war, it's just where there is war, there's need and there is people who need us.
So that's why we're there. Uh, we work in places with epidemics, so this was my first pandemic. Uh, but I've been working in different epidemics for over 10 years now, uh, and international because, uh, as I said, we're in over 70, 70 countries. And, um, so we have this, I'm called an expat, so I'm an expatriate.
And so I go and I just, but mostly, and this is what I always tell my team, the national team is the heart and the muscle and the brain and everything of, of our organization. Mm-hmm. So, uh, most, most of our staff are local staff working in the, uh mm-hmm. In, in their projects. Yeah.
Mm-hmm. And, um, what, what type of doctor are you?
I am a family physician, so that's a specialty. I did, I did all my medical degree in Paraguay. Um, I, I finished medical school there. I work there as a family physician in Paraguay. I was able to have, for example, a patient that was a pregnant woman and then I will be there for the delivery that I would actually either do the delivery or I will be the one receiving the baby and then the baby will be my patient.
Uh, so that's pretty much in, in Paraguay being a medical family physician. It's pretty great. Yeah. Since I started working with Dr. Will Borderers, I, I. I'm in charge of, so I'm a medical team leader, so I'm in charge of the medical team. Uh, this last mission, I was actually a project coordinator, so, um, it was just not only based in the medical part, so you actually gather skills and it's like being a doctor, you will always be a doctor and you will always have medical skills, uh, which is great.
Uh, but as a project coordinator, I was able to help the team in, in other ways that it's not just the medical part.
Mm-hmm. Yeah. No. Amazing. Um, what kind of countries have you done projects in? Like where have you gotten to travel as, um, with doctors about borders? Uh, let's see. I
always try to remember everything.
So I went to South Sudan, Columbia, Yemen, um, Chad Congo. N uh, Nigeria, Cameroon, uh, Honduras, Mexico, Guatemala. So I hope I don't rem I I don't forget anybody. Thank you. So I, I speak, I speak fluent with three languages. Well, kind of like people, uh, kind of understand me in three different languages. So I mainly go to French speaking countries.
Um mm-hmm. So I've forgotten Central African Republic there. Uh, so I, I mainly go to, to, uh, French speaking countries, but now we're having more and more, uh, projects in Central America and South America. So I've, I've been going there for the last few years. Yeah.
Yeah. And back when all of this started, what made you want to be a doctor?
I am a weird one. When I was 14. Yeah. When I was, and, and I have a hard time with this. So finally, I, I came to an understanding that it is, it's like Glen, you are the weird one. When I was 14, I knew I wanted to be a doctor. Mm-hmm. So when I was 14, I saw a billboard in Europe and I said, and it was, uh, uh, a, it was a picture of Dr.
Will Borders. Mm-hmm. So I said, cool, that's what I wanna do when I grow up. So my mom said, then you have to be a doctor. And I was like, I think I can do that. I had good grades, I like to help people. Mm-hmm. So since I'm 14, when people ask me, I said, I wanna be a doctor. And I just, I followed my dream.
And how did you end up in
the US love?
Yeah. So I, I was working with Dr. We border since 2010. I went for two missions. I went to, um, South Sudan, and then I went to Yemen in between missions. I was in Wai and I met the, the person who's my husband now. So, and he was American. And this is a funny part of the whole story because I always thought I would end up in Europe and I said I wasn't gonna come to the States.
And then I fell in love with an American and I moved here, so love brought me here. Yeah.
Yeah. And I've seen so many pictures that you post on Instagram when you do go on your missions and it's so powerful to see, um, the joy that you have in your life. I would say every day of getting to ride bikes or getting to help people, or just getting to do all this cool stuff that is life and to see you bringing that same joy to these places that are impoverished or in need or struggling.
To see you, especially connecting with kids and, you know, you know, you sent pictures of like all the drawings that they've given you or, you know, playing games with them, uh, outside of the hospitals. What is it like, you know, interacting with the people who you're there to serve in these different countries?
Well, the hardest thing for me, since 2000, in 2019, I went to an Ebola project. Mm-hmm. If that was super difficult because I couldn't interact with people as much as I used to. Uh, I love interacting, I love being with kids. Mm-hmm. Um, it's just a, a lot of people always ask me if I have a hard time going to these places and then coming back home and actually it's a coming back home that is difficult for me.
Mm-hmm. And, and I, and I've learned to live in these different worlds, but. I go to places where people have nothing. I'm like, I go to places where the kids have to go and walk 5K to gather water and bring the water and do their dishes, and they're just, and then I'm just playing with them and they're just happy because I'm playing with them, right.
I'm like just mm-hmm. I'm, they're just happy that I'm there for them. And then I come back home and I'm like, it, it happened. It doesn't happen that much anymore. But I used to like open the top and see like running water and just crying because there was running water. And I'm like, oh my gosh, seriously.
Um, so that's, that's my main thing. It's, it's just knowing how blessed and lucky mm-hmm. We are. Uh, so, and, and, and I just go and I, and I play with the kids and, and it's funny because I, I go and I'm like, I remember riding this bike. Uh, so I love bikes and you know that I love bikes, so whenever I can ride a bike, I'm like, I'm just riding a bike.
So. Uh, there was this, I was in Congo and there was these kids riding this gigantic bike, right. And I'm like, can I ride a bike? Mm-hmm. So they gave me the bike and I'm still riding, and then there's a downhill. So I started going down and there are no breaks, like no breaks. And I'm like, I'm gonna die, right?
So I was like, just put my butt back. And I was like, just go down. And it's like, I turn, and then I was like, all the kids are like, yeah. And I was like, I didn't die. I, I just gave a show. And then there's like, oh my gosh, you know how to ride a bike. And I'm like, well, we're I leave, we, we men ride bikes, like we do ride bikes for fun, right?
And for them it's usually a way of transportation and it's just, um, men, the men riding their bikes. And it's just because the women don't have a bike and it's just the men using it for transportation and to transport things and to transport, like big gigantic blogs. Right. Yeah. And, and you're like, well, where I leave, we, we ride bikes for fun and they don't get that fun bar.
It's just so, it's, it's, it's super interesting just to show them a different world. Mm-hmm.
Well, I think that's a great segue to share with everybody about project bike love. What is Project Bike love? How did it start and why does it exist?
Project bike Love exists to, in my, in my own heart, to connect worlds, like it's to seriously is to connect worlds.
Um, so in, in 2015, I met this great girl, Erin. Um, I was, myself, I was, I was struggling with this, I was struggling with mm-hmm. Living in such a, I, I say it this way, such a bumper world. Like we have our own struggles here. We have our own things, but it's seriously. First country issues. Mm-hmm. So for me, seeing the world the way I saw it, I just, I was having a hard time and I was just trying to find a way to be able to do something else.
So. I'm on a ride and I met this girl, Erin, and she's just chit-chatting and talking about bikes and empowerment and women, and now we're going up this hill and I'm like, uh, slow down woman. I really wanna hear what you're saying. I'm like, I can't keep up with you. Right. And we always tell this story 'cause it was like, she was just so fit that day.
And I'm like, I just came back from a mission. So we finally made it to the top and we kept, we keep talking and then we said, let's go for a run. So in that way I thought I was gonna keep up with her. So we, we go for an eight mile run, I believe it was in Laguna Coast Wilderness. And we start talking about this and she's, she's, she's a bike.
She, she, she loves bike. Very active. Mm-hmm. Um, so she has this idea that she wanted to do something. She wanted to empower women, she wanted to give bikes, she wanted to use the bike as a tool. And she just had this big idea. Right. And I'm like. I know what you're talking about. Like I know exactly what you're talking about, right?
Mm-hmm. And then when people think, and then I, I told her this, this story, um, I was in South Sudan and it was almost my last day in, in the mission. So I see this kid coming and he is nearly dead. Like he was like in a really bad shape. He's nearly dead. And I, and I see the nurses just thinking that the, this kid is gonna die.
So for me it was like, okay, I need to show these, the nurses that we can do something for these kid that he's not dead yet, that we can save this kid. So we start doing, it was difficult to even give him a a, a like to give an iv, right? Mm-hmm. So we had to do it through a needle, through the knee. So anyway, we do everything.
We start giving the medication. I stay there and like I call my, my project coordinator at that time. Like, I can, I please stay with this kid as long as I can. Then when I actually have to go to the compound, I'm like on the radio, like making sure he's getting all the medication. So at the next day I, I go back to the ho to the hospital.
I was gonna say to the hospital, I go back to the hospital and the kid is alive. Like the kid is alive and they're doing great. Kids are amazing. They're like so fast. They can like, they can spring back really fast. So. I just, I just go and I tell the dad, I'm like, okay, I already, I always like work with the nurses that they know that they can do this.
Now I need to work with the dad. Right. Like, why did you come so late to the hospital? Why did you, why did you wait so long? And he said, doctor, I didn't know there was a doctor wheel borders hospital nearby. And when I found out I couldn't find a bike to bring my kid to the hospital. Mm-hmm. And he lived a hundred kilometers away, so that's 66 miles that, that dad was on a bike with his son.
Mm-hmm. So that day I just, I just started crying. I just started crying. I'm like, I'll never make a stupid question anymore, ever again. Mm-hmm. When I say that a buy can be the difference between life and death, it's because I saw it. It's like, I'm not trying, that's what I keep saying. It's like, I'm not trying to sell you anything.
I'm like, I saw it. I'm like, I believe on it. I've like, I, I really saw the difference. And, and it's not always life and death. I mean, there are like a lot of grace in the middle. But I did, I saw the life and then, so I just, uh, then when we're talking with Amy, uh, with, with Erin, I said, we can really empower women, right?
Mm-hmm. So, um, we, that's how we started. We started with, with women. So we give bikes to women to use as transportation. And so it's, it's just the first time we went to Wai, it was just so eye-opening for me also. Because it's not just the giving the bike, it's just, it's also the feeling important. Mm-hmm.
It's also the feeling that somebody cares for them. Right. They're so, they're so invisible. Right. It's like, and suddenly it's like, Hey, somebody's actually seeing me, like somebody actually cares for me as a person. And, and I grew up in, in a, in a place like I grew up in far away, I grew up in mm-hmm. In a place where it's very men based and it's very mata so.
If, and it's, it's, it's very similar to what I see in places where I go, where I work, right? Most of the places where I work are like that. So if in a family there are five people, like five siblings, and there are four women and one boy, the boy is the one who's gonna get the bike, right, because mm-hmm.
It's just, it's, it's just how it is. Right? Like cultural wise. And he's the breadwinner and he's the one who, and then he has to be the strong one, so. Mm-hmm. Uh, before us, we wanted to do, we, and that's when people ask us, right? It was like, why only women? And I'm like, 'cause we speak women. It's like, we can connect with women.
I'm like, we love men. We just, we just connect with women. Mm-hmm. So, uh, we started in 2015. We delivered over 500 bikes. So far, uh, we sit locally, nationally, and internationally, and we went internationally. First, we deliver bikes in para. So, so far we are living in far Hawaii, Bolivia, Honduras, and here in, uh, in the States.
We live her bikes here in Orange County at Grandma House of Hope. And then we have a really, really good relationship with the Navajo Nation. Oh my gosh. You have to meet this woman Claudia. We love her. Uh, so she's doing great things at the Navajo Nation, so we have a really, really great relationship with them.
That's so cool. And, and to give everybody some more context of how it works on a regular basis. You, um, most of the project bike club team is based in Southern California and you raise money and do fundraisers and bike races and competitions and all sorts of things throughout the year to raise money so that you guys can, um, usually buy bikes locally, whatever's the cheapest, easiest, logistics wise to get everybody bikes.
Um, and it's amazing because people think of bikes and most people think of, of cycling like road bikes. But you, and you and a lot of the women involved do like cross bike, right? Where you're riding, um, mountain bikes or racing, it's like girls on bikes, on dirt and it's awesome like uphills endurance out in nature.
Um. How empowering does it make you feel when you are, you know, made it to the top of the mountain, or when you are racing downhill and you actually have breaks, like how, how does being on a bike and and racing with the bikes make you feel?
Well, the bikes is something, and I was just thinking about that coming back from Laguna.
Uh, right now it's the bike. It's one of those things. I'm a very, very active person, so I do, I like, I, I swim, I run, I hide. I can do, just give me anything. And I'm like, I'm a very active person, so I'm very inclined to anything related to sports, but nothing gives me the feeling that a bike gives me. Uh, the bike gives you a sense of independence, a sense of power, a sense of you are doing it yourself with your own legs.
Mm-hmm. And then it's like, and, and, and I said, I, I was just coming downhill right now, and you don't even remember how cool it is. I'm like, oh my gosh. I didn't, I wasn't able to do that like five years ago, and now it's nothing. Right? So you learn those skills and those are skills that stays with you, with you forever, but at the same time, it make you feel so good because you're learning something new.
Mm-hmm. But the bike itself, for me, it is, it's freedom. Yeah. It's independence, it's it's power. It's, it's just that remind you, it's just, it's, it's that reminder of like how powerful we really are as person. Mm-hmm. Right. Yeah. And then it, it does, I mean, I love running and I love hiking, but the, the thing about the bike is like, it gives you that little speed and it's like that win in your, in your face.
Right. That it gives you a little more freedom and independence and, and power
than the running car. Right. Mm-hmm. That I totally understand. And for the women and the girls who receive these bikes like it, when you talk about independent transportation, that's really what it is because they can go to school from on time and reliably, or for the first time, they can use it to sell things.
They can use it to go to work. Like, we don't realize how isolated people get when they don't have access to transportation and how that impacts everything else about their life. Um, they don't. And
we, we have these beneficiaries. We're working on this project right now. We're trying to get 500 bikes for indigenous women in para y.
Uh, so how we started this project is we have these, uh, partners and then we, well let, let's talk about partners later to, to explain how we work with partners. So we had these partners and they were talking to the ladies and asked, what do you want? Like, if you need to ask something to people, what would you ask?
And they said, we want bike. To go gather water and to go, uh, gather firewood, right? Mm-hmm. And you're like, oh my gosh. I'm like, really? It's like they, they're asking for bikes to go because they still have to go and do it, right? They have to go and walk mm-hmm. And do it right? And you're like, they're asking that.
And then I, so I was in Honduras now for, for Dr. Will Borders, but I mix a little bit so I could do both. And I was in this place, which is a really. Uh, dangerous place, right? There's like a lot of gang related thing and drug related things. So, uh, these amazing nurses, so there was this hurricane. Uh, so the, the, the health center was flooded for two months.
Their houses were flooded, and then they were finally able to go and clean the, the health center and, and clean their houses. And their, the, the people were going back to the health center. So these five nurses became, uh, project by beneficiaries. So they got bikes and they can actually ride the bikes.
They can, they can go to their houses and there is this like a bus, like a transportation that goes by. And these, these nurses like. I'm not gonna need you anymore. I have my bike now and I'm like, uh, that might give me a little trouble. 'cause I'm like, I'm getting business out of people, so I don't know if these place is a good place for me to, for you to actually say that.
So you have to see all these things, right? Mm-hmm. We don't even realize those type of things. I'm like, we're talking about gang related, like drugs and stuff. And I'm like, I just don't say anything. Just, just ride the bike.
Oh my goodness. Um, so what are these partners that you have are there? Describe who they are and how you work with them.
Yeah. So that's, that's really important for people to understand. And if you know anybody that you can help us, um, we try to look for partners for, for organizations that already work with women. So in that way we can actually do a follow up of the women. They also, they, they also help us. Uh, find the beneficiaries and choose the beneficiaries.
Uh, for example, in para y we have different organizations and Singapore para y uh, they're just organizations already working with the women. Mm-hmm. And then in that, in that way it's, it's, it's so much easy. Like, we have this, uh, it's called Funda, right? So it's like, it's a Catholic, uh, so there, it's like from a Catholic school, and we, uh, so we gave bikes to women, uh, that were going to night school.
Um, so this happened, they text me like two weeks. And so we, we, they, they text me and they said something happened, but we fixed it already. And I'm like, okay, what happened? Exactly, exactly. I was like, okay, what happened? So, um. A brother stole the bike from one of the girls and he was trying to sail it on something like Craiglist.
So the girls figure it out and they did like a private investigation and they went and knew exactly who that was. So then Annan just picture this, like Annan goes to the guy and it's like lawyers from the States are gonna come. Oh my goodness. So it's like the non going and then, then it's the na like texting me.
It's like, Glen, I just wanted to let you know, but I was like, we, we, we, we fix it. The bike, she has a bike already. Nobody's ever gonna sell a bike anymore. So for us, that's super important. Mm-hmm. We, we don't wanna go. We're, we're like, and, and we always say, we're not one of those organiz, we don't wanna be that.
We don't wanna be an organization that just give a hundred bites and then we take pictures and then we leave and we have no clue who. The people, what are they doing with their lives? Just disappear. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Just disappear. We, we, we don't, um, so we really try to work with people and there's this whole, this whole hog thing.
So, and then we also need to teach them like how to ride a bike and how to, to do basic mechanics, like how to change a flat tire and like basic things. And we don't even realize how basic they're for us. Mm-hmm. And then, but for people, it's like, wow. So we need, we, we teach them how to change a tire, how to even lower a seat, uh, yeah.
With a, uh, really basic things, but that already gives you also a sense of independence and power. Yeah. So, yeah, it's great.
I mean, full confession. I do not know how to change a flat tire on a bike.
It's like, I know you need to learn. I should, I should talk. Uh, I used to, I used to depend on my husband. So it's like when I, when I started riding, it's like I knew he would change my, my tire.
And I remember Aaron gave me so much shit about it, like, you do not need your husband to change your flat tire. I'm like, okay, I'm gonna learn and now to everybody. And then now, now I'm just, so I work, it's, I'm, I'm aware. So I work at a bike store when I'm home, and there was this, this, this guy, 83-year-old, he came and he hit a flat tire, but, um, he, he had tubeless.
So it's, it's a, it's a whole story. So you can have no tubes inside your tire, so you have ceiling, right? And then he came because he, you, like, he hit a flat tire. So I said, okay, uh, it costs $25 to do it now, and we can fix it. Or, or you can learn how to fix your own, uh, flats, right? Yeah. So I'm like, I went and I'm like, this is what you need and this is a kid and this is how you do it.
And I'm like, and on YouTube you can learn everything. So people were like laughing. They were like, look at you teaching people how to choose. I'm like, people need to know how to survives. I mean, chase their flats
and do
stuff. Mm-hmm.
Yeah. No, it's, it's, yeah. We have two bikes in our garage right now. We actually have three in our garage, but two of them have something that needs to be fixed, either at tire or pedal, broken something.
And I'm like, this is so crazy. Like this has to get fixed. Mm-hmm. I know. A bike store. Yes. We're just gonna bring everything to you. That's what we're gonna do. Uh, like, so we know that you growing up knew you wanted to be a doctor very early. Were you also always imagining a life that was full of sports and full of making an impact and full of travel?
Like, did you know that this is what your life would look like from a young age? The travel?
Yes, for sure. Uh, the being active, uh, yes, for sure. So I was, uh, I was, we're five and I'm the, so we're five siblings, right? I have two older brothers and then two younger sisters. So I grew up with two older brothers and I was one of the boys, right?
Like right now, and I think we had this conversation before because I'm like, I was. It's like, no, I wasn't a tomboy. I was a girl who was very active. I'm like, I just hate that we have to define everything, right? The definition of a tomboy. I'm like, no, I'm just a girl who likes to be active, right? Mm-hmm.
Uh, so I, like right now, it's like I didn't like to be braid in my braid my hair or putting dresses. Yeah. I, I was just, I was just a very active person. Uh mm-hmm. And then I think I, I, I, I was a trailblazer for sure, for my ca and my, my cousins, um mm-hmm. So I, I did everything when I played all the sports.
I, I, I used to play football. I broke my, not hitting, I broke my hand two times, like my, my wrist and then my, my, what is my wrist and then my arm, uh, playing football with the boys. Because, uh, so I was a goalie and my brother, he's like, he tried to score and I'm like, I, he didn't score, but I broke my hand.
Like I stopped, I stopped the ball. Um, and then my dad, that's, that's kind of the story of my, so my dad was a commercial pilot, so I, I travel since I'm, since I'm very little, I, I, I was already traveling. Uh, so that, that was something that really marked my life when I was, since I'm 12. When I was 12 I was going to Belgium, and that's why I always tend to Europe.
I was going mm-hmm. For three months. Um, I have these, these friends, like my parents have these friends and I'll, I would just go for my whole time for my vacation and I will go to Belgium and stay there. And I was working there in a restaurant, uh, and I just love how easy it was to travel. And I remember I have this, my aunt and I said, I, I wanna go to Paris.
I never went, I've never been to Paris. I was like 14. I'm like, I've never been to Paris. I wanna go to Paris. And she is like, okay, I'm gonna take you to Paris. And she just made sandwiches and we just went to Paris. And I'm like, oh my gosh, that's exactly the type of person I wanna, like, she was like my role model.
Like that's the type of person I wanna be. And then when I was 16, I won this scholarship, uh, it's called Al. That's for sure is a trip that marked my life. So I won this in scholarship. It's, uh, 15 days in, in, um, Spain, and then a month in a, in a country in South America. So I was, I went to Bolivia, but with 350 people my age, like at 16 and 17.
And I remember that was that, that, that's a trip that marked my life because I realized I wasn't crazy, right? Mm-hmm. I'm like, I wasn't the, or, I wasn't the only crazy. I love my friends, I'm still friends with my, the, the girls I grew up with. I, I, I love them. Mm-hmm. But I wasn't into makeup or clothes or, uh, parties.
I was the supportive one that liked to read and see the world.
Yeah.
So I, I met these people when I was 16, 17, and, and I was like, oh my gosh, these are my people. Mm-hmm. So I, I think in. In that way. And my mom also says that she's, she, she thinks like, she's like, I, I always knew you were not gonna say in para y.
Um, and it's, it's, it's something that I kind of knew. I, I did. And, and, and again, I didn't know where I was gonna end in the world. Mm-hmm. But, um, I knew it was gonna be in a place with people that are like, uh, like-minded, like more supportive. Mm-hmm. And, uh, liking to travel and in all that thing, it's like making an impact and making a difference in people's lives.
Yeah. I just. That, that was just who I was since my giving. Yeah.
Yeah. Those three things you mentioned are pretty much core pillars of, of my life, but like I wanna read as much as possible and learn as much. I wanna travel as much and I wanna make an impact and ideally do it with similar people. Um, I felt the same way when I moved to Germany and I was working for Puma and Adi was based there too.
And so it was a bunch of people the same age, crazy enough to move abroad to make shoes or make clothes and, and travel the world. Like all rooted in, in sport and making cool things. And it was, it was relief being like, oh, I'm not the weirdo. Like, there's other weirdos like me. I know. And it's, it's such a crazy feeling to be like, oh, okay.
I just haven't found
my people. Mm-hmm. When I, when I work with, uh, so I work three months a year and I was like abroad and then I'm home. Um, when I work, it's so funny 'cause it's like, these are my people. Like, so here they're my people. They're like the sportive one and we go riding. But then I also have my other, my people, right?
Yes.
I was laughing because I, I was, I was in a, I I, like, I was living with people, like with French people and they all speak English, but they, because we were in Honduras, they had to speak Spanish. So in our meeting, we were speaking three different languages and not caring about, like, and we would just switch from one language to the other.
And it was perfect because everybody understood. Right. And it was just whatever was perfect in that language would say in that language, and then go back. Right? And then when people ask you where you're from, it's like, it's just a norm, right? They don't ask you where you're from in a, I don't wanna say in a mean way, but, uh, usually when people ask you where you're from, it's more like, well, I'm originally from Faray and this, but when I'm abroad and people ask me where I'm from, it's so much easy because everybody's from everywhere.
And it's like, where am I living now? Where did I grow up? Where was I born? So, right. It's, it's like that, and it's like, oh my gosh, it's so much easier.
Yeah. Or just, just, just even not having to explain why you travel so much. Right. Or the idea of, of. Just even knowing it's possible, right? Like there you get to skip all the, the shock and awe and just start talking to the person.
Mm-hmm. Yeah.
And then it's, it's, it's funny, I I I always say it's just the, the way we connect, because again, it's like my people here are my people, right? But yes, we, we, we usually, it's like, okay, what did you buy now? What are you getting now? What? It's, it's something like that. And when I go and you're learning out about like, yeah, it's, it's more like, where are you going next?
What are you doing next? Where are you doing? And it's still like, uh, it's, it's so nice and mom just to like, it's, it's okay. You, you can just be you without, that's what it is. I can just be me without justifying myself, like why I do things. I'm like, it's just me.
Yeah. Mm-hmm. Um, so I think that's a perfect opportunity to ask when you hear the words powerful.
And ladies, what do those words mean to you independently, and what do they mean to you when they're together as powerful ladies?
I kept thinking so much about powerful, um, and, and in, in this sense, I think sometimes we, we define, we like, we, we, we come a definition with everything and right. And powerful means that you have to be strong, right?
It's like we always have to be strong and we have to be the strong ones. And I have these friends sole and, uh, she said this in an interview we had, uh, she's, she's from Paraguay. We used to, uh, we worked together at a, an organization. Uh, she's, she was a minister at the, uh, housing, uh, department. In, in, in Paraguay, super male dominated.
Um, and she said. People think that we are weak because we are sensitive, and, uh, weakness come from the mind and sensitivity comes from the heart. We're not weak, we are sensitive. And that changed everything for me, right? I'm like, mm-hmm. Hey, I, I'm very powerful. Like I'm a very powerful person and, but with, with many things.
But I am sensitive too, and it's okay to be sensitive and it's okay to be vulnerable. I mean, it it make us who we're right? Yeah. So when I combine our powerful ladies, it's like, it's so much more than just showing like strength, right? Mm-hmm. It's like, it's, it's sensitivity, it's power. Uh, it's being strong, but in our own way, right?
We can't, and, and I keep saying it's okay to be vulnerable and it's okay to be sensitive. It's who we are. Right.
Mm-hmm.
Uh, and, and, and I surrounded myself now with so many amazing, powerful ladies, um mm-hmm. That it's, it's just being, and, and, and I keep saying this also to my, to my friends. Like I, I grew up with people and I'm friends with the people that I grew up.
I have friends that know me since I am six, right? Mm-hmm. Uh, but it's, it's, it's amazing how like, living here now and being surrounded by the women that I'm surrounded here, I'm like, oh my gosh. Being a powerful lady to such a different sense than what it was when I was growing up, right? Mm-hmm. Growing up, I just had to be.
Strong and always show that I was strong and then stronger than a man. That was usually it, like stronger than my brothers, or it's like, you can, for me it was the Berlin. You cannot do that because you're a woman. And I was like, oh, let me show you how to do it. There was, there was a lot of, you cannot do that.
And I'm like, let me show you how it's done. And now I, I don't have that anymore in the way that it's like, yeah, I still show you how it's done, but not in a mean way. I'm just gonna show you how it's done because I know I can do it. Right. Yes.
That's
just, I am who I am.
You, you are the example of those, uh, Nike commercials when it's the, anything you can do, I can do better competitions, right?
Where it be like, you know, Michael Jordan Vis versus Mia Ham or something. Right. And they just keep one-upping each other. Um, when, when, you know, when I think about you and your power. And I, and I like your definition of adding in this, this multidimensional power, right? Like it's not, there's so many layers to what it means to be powerful.
And when I think about you as a powerful lady, there's. There's such a, a grace and humility that you bring with it too, right? Like you have this zest for life and this enthusiasm that I think is contagious for other people. And like the way that you look at people. Like there's, you know, you're such a, a smart and accomplished and brave person, but when you look at somebody, you meet them like as equals no matter who they are.
And I think that so comes through when you, when you're on your mission trips as well, and like really seeing everybody that no matter what they have, we're all as equally powerful. So let's meet there, let's meet at that human level.
Mm-hmm. I learned from everyone and that's it. Yeah. And we're just different, right?
Yeah. We are just different. I remember being now in my last mission, and I was, and I, I, I, I was laughing about this right? I am terrible. I, I, I can cook. That's the thing. I should learn how to cook. But then I, I'm terrible at it. Things, anything that is related to it, things like, I am so terrible. Right. So we had this shared drive that I was like trying to figure out this whole shared drive thing.
And I have a friend, Jill French, 32 years old, and I was like, okay, Jill, you are much better than me at this. We, we need to do it now. I was like, can you do it? And then I was like, I can do it too. And somebody said, it's like, you know how, you know you can learn how to do that, right? You are very smart. And I'm like, oh, I know.
I'm very smart. I know that it's totally fine, but she's smarter than me in that. And it's totally fine. I mean, it's just, we're just different. So we're, we, we can work together and we can do it faster right now because we, and that's one thing that I remember, this person was just thinking, it's like, oh, that's really interesting.
Like. You know, you're smart, but you know, she's also smart, right? And it's like, yeah, it's not a competition. I mean, she's better than me. That, and we need to do it fast. So it was like, just do it. Right? So it's, it's one of those things I know, I think we put too much pressure on ourself that we always have to like, be good and best and show, and, and I don't, we just can learn so much from other people and we're just different.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah. And I know whenever every experience I've ever had abroad or even in a different part of the US than I'm used to, it always makes me feel more optimistic about humanity. It makes me feel better about like, we can fix our problems. Um, and it, as you said earlier, it just recenters on like what really matters, like.
Everyone cares about their family. Everyone's trying to, to improve for themselves and, and their family. Everyone's trying to, um, enjoy meals together and have fun and celebrate whatever everyone celebrates in their different cultures. And we're so similar that it, it's, I find it irritating how, how much we try to use our differences against each other when there's such an opportunity to just celebrate, um, how much we have in common.
Yep. Totally agree. Excuse me.
So our,
our,
our differences make us
better.
Yeah, yeah, it really does. Um, when you look at the women who have been in your life, who, who inspired you? You mentioned your aunt earlier, but who's inspired you, um, growing up and now, and how have the women in your life. Change the trajectory of the life that you have.
I think I have so many women to look up and I think in a, in a good way and in a bad way. I also had women. And, and that's knowing that that's not what I wanted. And, and, and it's, and it's, it's what? It's right. It is what I say. It's like, it is what it's, I was like, I also had women thinking that that's not what I want.
Mm-hmm. And for example, for me, I was just, okay if I get, I didn't have the, for me, it wasn't like getting married and having kids and having a house and having these, that was never my goal. Right. So I remember growing up knowing that that was not my goal. And then everybody saying like, there's something wrong with you.
And I'm like, well, it's just who I'm Right. Um. But then women that were like that, they were giving so much to others, right? It's like that was my main thing. Like all the love and all the care, and that's my mom, right? So I remember, like, I didn't wanna have, that was not my goal in life. Like I didn't wanna be a mom of five and just being like totally focused on my five kids.
That was just not who I was, but she was everything, right? She's like, she gave everything to us. And then I think now that she's, she was so different than what I was like, I was so supportive and she was not, but she gave me everything. Like she would take me to swim classes and these classes, so. The under.
Now I, I can understand that. It's like, oh my gosh, we're so different. And she gave me all the power and all the freedom. And as I say, she gave me life and then she gave me wings to live it. Um, so that's, that's one of the things. And then, so I have different school teachers. Most of my school teachers were women.
And that's amazing. Like most of my school teachers were, were women. And I remember when I was, uh, sixth grade for para wise, so I was 12. This, this, uh, teacher told my mom, she is gonna be a lawyer. I'm 100% sure, but, and it's gonna be a lawyer, but she's gonna be a lawyer. Like for poor people. She's always defending her friends.
She will be the one standing out for everyone and she's gonna be a lawyer. And my mom was like, I don't think a lawyer, I think she wants to be a doctor. And so I think maybe that's also the things like, my mom thought I was gonna be a doctor, right? So I grew up thinking I was gonna be a doctor. Um, so I had.
I, I like growing up for me, uh, I didn't have that many women to look up at what I was thinking that I was gonna be. Right. Uh, then growing up, I think I, I started making my own way and my own path and, and then going into medical schools and I, I did have teachers and doctors and females, and I was like, oh, okay.
You can actually be a female and be a doctor. Um, and then I started getting like more because I was so supportive and I didn't have any, uh, like any person who was supportive that I would, I'm like Michael Jordan. I grew up with Michael Jordan. He was like, I was, I, I was, I I loved basketball. So I was growing up with Michael Jordan, right?
Um, so now I feel, when I think about that, I, I say, oh my gosh, I feel the responsibility sometimes because. Two years ago, my niece, she's, she's, uh, last year she was, she's 15. And at one, she had to like, dress up as a person she admired, right. And she dress up like me. I know she was like, project by glove things.
She's like, she dress up like me, and she took about Auntie Bella. Mm-hmm. And I'm like, oh, we have so much responsibility. Right? Yeah. It's like, oh my gosh. People are actually looking at us like we don't realize, and people are actually looking at us. And as I think, like my aunt, I'm sure she had no clue when she said that, yeah, I'm gonna take you to Paris.
And she just made sandwiches and grab her keys, right? Like, for her, that was so normal. And for me it was like, that's, that's, I'm gonna be that person. I'm like, I'm gonna be the one like making sandwiches, grabbing her kiss, and going to Paris, right? Mm-hmm.
So, yeah. Yes. It's so, it's so moving Right. To like know the impact that that had on you.
Right. Um, you know, when, when, for anyone who's listening who feels like they're, they're the, the weird one or the odd one out, and they, they haven't found people who are like them in certain capacities, like what would, what advice would you give to, to stay true to yourself and to Yeah. I guess just stay true to yourself and keep going.
Embrace it.
It's okay. And, and I always say that it's, it is okay to be different. So I, I have this, I, I I, I start giving this, uh, presentation to young people and going through, and I, I call myself el like the ugly duck. Growing up I was the ugly duck, right? Because I was. I grew up in a society that is like, so you have to like, even little girls, like makeup and things.
And I was like, I was not that. So I was always the smart, the adventurous, right? So I was the ugly one. I was never the beauty, right? And I always tell that to Jim, my husband, I'm like, well, you made me beauty because he calls me beauty, right? And I'm like, you know what? I never saw myself like that. And he's like, yeah, yeah, right.
All the beautiful girls are like that. They don't see, I'm like, I'm telling you, like I didn't grow up. Mm-hmm. Thinking I was beautiful because I was smart and I was the adventurous, right? Mm-hmm. So I, I always said that to people, it's like, it's okay to be different. It's perfectly fine. It's you just embrace who you're, and there are billions of people in this world.
Trust me. You are not weird. You just not, you just didn't find your people.
Yeah. Yeah. You find your people. You will, you will. And, and then when I look at the, the choices that you've made throughout your life, the more that you leaned in on being you, the, the bigger cooler thing has come to you, right? Like being you and going to medical school.
You got, you've been traveling the world and helping people for years now, and being you and leaning in on sport has given you access to project bike love and a whole thing that you probably never had dreamed of before you talked to Aaron, right? So I think there's so much power in whatever makes you unique, that that's your, that that's a, uh, it's a clue to what you have to give the world.
And you never know how that, how that gift is gonna be used, right? Um, but if you don't lean in on it, you, you'll miss all those opportunities. So, you know, the fact of you being you has led you to your people and being able to serve and. To make all those things that really matter to you, be such a part of your life.
Like you, you walk the walk, right? You are always active, you're always helping, you're always, um, doing what really matters to you. So, um, yeah, you never know what's available by just leaning in, leaning in on what makes you weird, right? Yep. Embrace it. Embrace it. It's about to be weird. No, no. We had a, um, a power couple on a couple episodes ago and you know, they said, we know we're doing something right.
When somebody thinks like, well, that's not normal. And so whenever somebody says, that's not normal, they go, yes. Like, 'cause it means that they're, they're following their path and their heart and who wants to like normal? There's nothing wrong with normal, but there's so many other options, um, to, to carve your own normal and create it.
Um,
people right now are asking me, they're, they're usually asking me like, so what do you, how, like, how do you see the end of your life type of, right? Mm-hmm. It's like, so people, especially here in the States, well, here in the States, you see people that are more thinking about retirement and what are you gonna do with your retirement?
So people are also always thinking about retirement when in other places people don't think as much as retirement yet, because they're like trying to, like, they're not struggling with basic life, like how to deal with their normal day life right now. Right? So, when people ask me about retirement, and I'm like, I don't even think about retirement because for me, if I can, I'm just gonna keep working until I die.
Like, I'm not kidding. I just love what I do, right? Mm-hmm. And I'm, it's, and it's not just being a doctor. It's like, like I, sometimes I go back home. And my husband is like, so how was your day? And I'm like, oh my gosh, you won't believe this. This little girl, five year olds, like, I sold her a bike, but she's like, and he, and he's like, how are you like so passionate about it?
I was like, he's like, I was just working in like, I don't know, a big contract, right? And I'm like, no, I didn't. I saw a bike for a 5-year-old. But it was awesome because she learned how to ride and she thinks she, she wanted like training wheels, but then she didn't need the training wheels. And that was great to see her doing that, so.
Mm-hmm. It's just being passionate about what you do. And I'm like, I don't even think about retirement.
Yeah. No, it, it, it's true. We, I, we, um, I do a men's, uh, mastermind group, uh, right now, and we were talking about fire, right? Um, financially independent, retire early, like that strategy, people have to save up all their money so they can quit their job.
And I'm like. Yeah, but that strategy only works if you hate your job. Like, why are we even doing work that we don't like? Like there's plenty of ways to make money in this world. Um, you can have your own business, you can work for somebody else, like whatever you want in life, you can, you can find it in a way that somebody will pay you.
Um, you know, I wanted to travel the world. I got, I took jobs at companies that, like me, I had to travel like it was part of the job. And so it's, you know, while, while fire sounds really sophisticated and cool and like young entrepreneur saving up all my money to retire at 30, 40, whatever the number is, people choose.
It's like, cool. Then what? Like. If we're just doing it to have a pile of money, there's so much that we're missing of what we could be experiencing with life and, and learning and growing and all the things. So I agree with you. Um, I
think, I think sometimes now when we talk about like winning the lottery, right?
And I'm like, I would love to win the lottery, so I'm gonna go and work for free. Yeah. I'm gonna take my husband with me to my mission Right. And I'm gonna go, we'll go and work for free, or I've just, that's what I'm gonna do. Right? I'm like, yeah, if you have, like, if I win the lottery, what are you gonna do?
And I'm like, for sure I'm gonna travel after this pandemic, it's over. I'm gonna take my family on a trip. Yes. And then I'm just gonna go and
work. That's, yeah. That's what I do. That's what I love. Yeah. Like, I'm gonna prepay my cell phone and my mortgage for the next 60 years and then I'm just gonna do whatever I want.
Yeah. So I just can't have a place that, I call it my base and it's my home. And where, it's usually where my bikes are. And that's it.
Yeah. If you won the lottery, you would bring your family in a bike with you on every trip. Mm-hmm. Probably,
I dunno about every trip or like, there are places where I shouldn't bring my family, but Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I could to some difficult places.
And, and are you ever scared going into them or do you feel like you get enough training to be prepared?
There is one thing about fear, and I always say fear, it's a good thing. I mean, if you, you see it in your advantage, fear is a good thing, right? It's, it's a fear of the fear that stops you. It's a, it's, it's a bad fear. Um, I do know that I, I've been in situations that I have the skills or I was just lucky enough.
To be able to solve a situation in a way that it wouldn't affect others. And when I mm-hmm. And when I say affect, or when I talk about affect others meanings, like, uh, people didn't die because of a way something was resolved. Right. Um, I, I think most people live their life being afraid to die. And I live my life being afraid of not leaving.
Uh, I think at, at the end, I mean, I know we're just busing through. I mean, I do know I am going to die eventually. I know it's like it will sometimes scares more my, my loved ones, right. And I will be like, but then I think it's like they will be able to do their life without me. It's not that I put myself in danger, like, because I want to.
Uh, but then the same thing. It, it's, it's when, when you talk about skills, and if I'm prepared enough, like I know I can take measures to decrease the risk as much as possible. It's like when you ride a bike, right? You ride a bike and you, like, you ride a bike and you put yourself in danger. But what you do, you wear a helmet.
Uh, if you're on the road, you follow the, the road rules. You try to be as safe as possible. There is never zero risk. Everything we do is risky, right? So we just do things in a way that the risk is minimal. Uh, but then I probably do take more risk than most people
Yeah. To say, yeah, there's no way around it. If there's a sprinkle of adventure anywhere right then mm-hmm. Yeah. And so for everybody who is now really excited about project bike glove and what you're doing, how can they support you? How can they donate? Um, where can they find you and, and connect for project bike glove?
Yep. So we have a website and we are launching our new website soon. It's called www project by love.org. Uh, there you can go see who we are, what are we doing, and we mainly, we, we take donations. So mainly it's, uh, so we are a 5 0 1 C3, uh, so all the donations are tax deductible. And mainly what we do, it's, it's donations through the.
We also have a web store. We just now we have new t-shirts and bottles, so you're spreading the love. But I always, it's a great gift. You can give us a gift to, to somebody. Uh, and then we do, uh, events like on, on May 8th, we're gonna have an event with a trail angel. So it's called Open House. Uh, we take Women's on Rides, we teach them how to ride, and then we have different events throughout, throughout the year and then different projects.
Our main project right now is, uh, working with an Navajo nation and then in Paraguay, these 500 women that we want to give the, the bikes to the, to the native women. Mm-hmm. So the best way to, to help, it's, you can follow us on, on Facebook or on Instagram, and we always, uh, tell people what we're up to. But it's, it's just great 'cause we, like I was suggesting Honduras and we were able to give this bike to these five amazing women.
Uh, so we're working all the time doing things all the time. The best way is to go to the website.
Yeah. Perfect. And if people want to follow or connect with you, is there any other ways that they should connect with you directly? So I have, my Instagram is
Aya and Californian girl. Uh, on Twitter. I actually, it's a funny one because in, in Twitter in me, it's ata at you world, which mean it's a mix between ANI and in English, right?
It means I'll be. I'm, I'm going to come back. It does how, what it means. Um, and then I, it's, I, I have the, uh, direct message. It's, it's open, so if anybody wants to contact me through there, it's like I, I, I check regularly my messages, and then through, uh, project by Blog we also have our Instagram. It's a Project by Love, and then we're also on Facebook, and I was starting to be on Twitter.
I just, we we're not that many. We should be in, in more social media, but we're just trying to keep up.
Mm-hmm. Yeah. No, it's, it's a real nonprofit, right? It's, it is. Oh, that's how we met back in the day. Right. Getting it launched. So it's, if you guys are doing the work and, and doing the projects and finding beneficiaries and doing the fundraising.
There's not a lot of time left for doing social media, so, um, ev everybody working there has a
job or a full-time job and we, we do it because we're just so passionate about it and all the people we met on the way, either way, just you can actually make an impact on somebody's life. And it's, it's just great.
It really is. Well, Valin, I think you are such a powerful lady. Thank you for being a Yes and coming on the podcast. It's so nice to see you and catch up. Um, and yeah, I hope that once we're allowed to be out and, um, meet again, that I can see you and Erin again soon. So thank you so much. Thank you, Kara. And bring those bikes to the bike store.
Yes, I'll, I will.
Thank you for listening to today's episode. All the links to connect with Belin are in our show notes@thepowerfulladies.com slash podcast. There. You can also leave comments and ask questions about this episode. Want more powerful ladies, come join us on Instagram at Powerful Ladies, where you can also find some free download to start being powerful today.
Subscribe to this podcast and help us connect the more listeners by leaving us a five star rating and review. If you're looking at connect directly with me, visit kara duffy.com. We'll be back next week with a brand new episode. Until then, I hope we're taking on being powerful in your life. Go be awesome and up to something you love.
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Instagram: @Paraguayancaliforniangirl
Twitter: @ahataajuworld
YouTube: Belen Ramirez
Facebook: @Belén Ramírez Bourdages
Website: Www.projectbikelove.org
LinkedIn: Belén Ramírez Bourdages
Created and hosted by Kara Duffy
Audio Engineering & Editing by Jordan Duffy
Production by Amanda Kass
Graphic design by Anna Olinova
Music by Joakim Karud
