Wednesday, December 28, 2011

1087 RWFL Bicycles to be Distributed to Cambodian Children!

Many thanks to all the Rotary Clubs and individuals across Ontario and beyond who have contributed and put tremendous efforts into raising well over $40,000 that will provide bicycles to needy, rural students here in Cambodia.

In five days, the first of our Rotary Wheels for Learning 2012 Cambodia Team will arrive here in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Team members include Rotarians and Friends Dave and Linda Brouilette, Keith and Susan Montgomery, Peter and Jan Rickard, Walter and Donna Reid, Steve and Janice Hayhurst, Ron and Margaret Walton, Rick and Cheryl Hunter, Ruth Bell-Towns, Michaela Korb, Naomi Hickey-Humble, Stephanie Boag and myself. 

Bicyles will be distributed to two districts in Battambang with the assistance of the Rotary Club of Battambang and the Cambodian Red Cross. Three districts in Takeo province will also receive bicycles with assistance from Banyan Learning Tree Organization volunteers here in Cambodia.

A special distribution of 87 bicycles will be given out to children living on he outskirts of Stung Mean Chey Dump in Phnom Penh.

The children come from miles around to attend a special school there run by CNN hero Pymean Noun and her organization - People Improvement Organization http://peopleimprovement.org/
We'll be not only personally gving out each of these 1,087 bicycles to the children, but will spend many hours putting the bicycle accessories onto each bike.

As well as bicycles we'll be distributing two tons of rice with Battambang Rotarians. We'll be accompanied in Battambang by Dr. Khom Pisal, who will provide dental hygiene education for the 600 bicycle recipients and their families there. Our Team will be distributing toothbrushes and toothpaste after each education session.

Our RWFL Team will be arriving with many donated items that will be distributed to area schools and children throughout our distribution travels through Cambodia.

At present, we are busy shipping 100 bicycles every three days to each of our target locations where they will be securely stored until our arrival.

You can follow our monumental bicycle distribution by following this blogsite and the special Rotary Wheels for Learning Cambodia 2012 site at:

 http://rwflcambodia2012.blogspot.com/

Part of the RWFL Cambodia 2012 Team