Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Surpassing Our Goal - 1097 Bicycles Distributed in Cambodia by Rotarians and Friends!
During the month of January 2012, 1097 Bicycles were distributed to needy school children in Cambodia – Thanks to the amazing efforts of our team of 19 Rotarians and Friends and all the Rotary Clubs and individual donors who supported the cause with their donations.
Our 19 Rotarians and Friends came from the Bracebridge and Gravenhurst Rotary Clubs, District 7010, Ontario, Canada. The bicycles were distributed through the Rotary Wheels for Learning (RWFL) program of the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst.
Many other local organizations and volunteers were involved in this huge undertaking including:
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| Our Team of Rotarians, Friends & Local Volunteers |
Rotary Club of Battambang, Cambodia, District 3350
Banyan Learning Tree http://banyanlearningtree.blogspot.com/
Cambodian Red Cross
Our RWFL Cambodia 2012 Team distributed bicycles in the following areas:
300 Bicycles in North Phnom Sampov village, Aek Phnom village, Thma Koul Primary School and Setoup Commune in Battambang province.
300 Bicycles in Koh Kralor district, including Takou Primary School.
197 Bicycles in Prokeab village, Takeo province.
110 Bicycles in Bakot village, Takeo province.
100 Bicycles to area children near Tamao Wildlife Sanctuary and Rescue Centre
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| Rotarian Lisa McCoy with Students at PIO School Located on Outskirts of Phnom Penh Dump |
Our Cambodia 2012 Trip gave participants the opportunity to be actively involved in the bicycle distribution process:
Preparing Bicycles for distribution – Affixing the baskets, pedals, bells, lamps and Rotary decals to the bikes, as well as pumping up the tires, adjustments and minor repairs.
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| Rotarians & Friends Working Under the Brutal Cambodian Sun! |
Each participant personally presented bicycles to the child and had their photo taken with them.
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| Stephanie Boag Present a Bicycle - One of 100 Distributed at Tamao |
It wasn’t all about bicycles either! – Our Team brought over suitcases of donated items that were distributed throughout our bicycle distribution locations. Many thanks to Barbara Seagram, Patti Lee and their Bridge Group from Toronto for their many donated items.
Hundreds of tubes of toothpaste and toothbrushes were given out at some of our bike distributions! Trip team member Walter Ried (retired dentist) and local Cambodian Dentist Khom Pisal teamed up to give invaluable dental hygiene education sessions to hundreds of children and their families.
The Rotary Clubs of Bracebridge and Gravenhurst also provided one ton of rice each to village areas in Battambang province. This was distributed through the Rotary Club of Battambang’s Rice Program. We immensely enjoyed our fellowship volunteering alongside Battambang Club members for two days, and feasting together at our gala poolside dinner.
We were treated as VIPs at many of the distribution locations – grand ceremonies had been planned by local officials and schools thanking Rotary for their educational support through the provision of bicycles to school children lacking this necessary transportation to get to School.
What a great opportunity is was to show ‘Rotary at Work’ in many rural impoverished areas that had never heard of Rotary before!
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| Roatarians & Friends at Bicycle Distribution Ceremony 100 Bicycles for Children Living Near Tamao Wildlife Sanctuary & Rescue Centre |
During our 19-day trip around the central portion of the country, we saw many of Cambodia’s famed sites including: Angkor Wat, Toul Sleng Genocide Museum, the Choueng Ek Killing Fields and the Royal Palace. There was lots of shopping at local markets for everything including beautiful Cambodian silk, carvings and tourist fare!
You, or your group of Friends, can join our January Cambodia 2013 RWFL Bicycle Distribution Trip! Email us for further details at: rotarywheelsforlearning@gmail.com . Your donation of $50 will provide a child with needed transportation for education.
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| Visiting the Famed Temples at Angkor Wat |
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| Team Members Rick Hunter, Susan Montgomery, Janice Hayhurst, Walter Ried, Margaret Walton and Keith Montgomery with Children at Prokeab Village, Takeo Province |
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