56 More Rotary Bicycles Distributed in Rural Cambodia

November 19th saw 56 more Rotary Bicycles distributed to impoverished children and those from landmine-affected families. 51 Bicycles were donated by the Rotary Club of Mississauga Lakeshore, Ontario, Canada. The morning distribution took place at the Koas Krala District Office of the Cambodian Red Cross. $50 will provide a sturdy bicycle enabling a rural child to get to school. An international program of the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst, Ontario.

24 Rotary Wheels for Learning Bicycles for Children of Landmine Survivors

Click on photo to view a picasa web album of this Rotary Wheels for Learning Bicycle Distribution.

Thanks to generous donors for providing these 24 Rotary Bicycles for students from landmine-affected families living in remote villages in Koas Krala district, Battambang province, Cambodia.

On November 20^th, 2010, 50 families from all corners of the district made their way to the Koas Krala District Office to receive educational and occupational support from the Canadian Landmine Foundation, the Rotary Club of Etobicoke, and Rotary Wheels for Learning (RWFL). This collaborative distribution was aptly named ‘Project Battambang’.

These 24 RWFL bicycles are part of our RWFL Phase Two Distribution Project to provide 75 bicycles to children from landmine-affected families in this targeted district.  Your donation of $50 per bicycle will help towards fulfilling this commitment.

Landmine families in need of help were identified by Cambodian Red Cross District Administrator Sopheany Chhoeun and staff Ben Sida and Loeung Deun. Sopheany is a dedicated young woman constantly visiting those in need throughout the district. She knows well the people in her community and their needs.

The bicycles were purchased in Phnom Penh and made their six-hour, 291km journey by truck to Koas Krala in the dark morning hours on Friday. Two drivers and local volunteer Un Vanthon accompanied the load of bikes.  They were followed by our vanload of volunteers including Pauline Johns, Vanthon’s family and Dr. Khom Pisal.  We spent Friday night at a guesthouse in Battambang city – the closest location to Koas Krala village.

On Saturday morning, the load of bikes followed by our van of volunteers made the 30km journey from Battambang to Koas Krala.

Landmine survivors arrived with families in tow soon after daybreak. Double-amputees arrived by platform tractor taxi – a tractor with a platform trailer on the back. Some came on the back of a motorcycle driven by neighbor or friend. Most of their transportation was arranged by the Koas Krala Red Cross.

Our volunteers were greeted with many smiles from landmine survivors and their families and friends.

The 30 minute distribution ceremony was officiated by the Battambang Provincal Chief and local officials, who thanked Rotary for providing bicycles for landmine-affected families. This was followed by an educational session of dental hygiene taught by Cambodian dentist, Dr. Khom Pisal, after which, hundreds of tubes of toothpaste and toothbrushes were distributed to all families.  

The distribution lasted well into the afternoon. Each bicycle recipient came to the front table, where our volunteer translators recorded their personal information and the child signed the form. They were then allocated a bicycle and proceeded to another area to have their photo taken with their Rotary Bike.

Part of the ‘Project Battambang’ distribution provided nine bicycle repair businesses to landmine survivors.  To our delight, these new ‘Bicycle Repairmen’ promptly opened up their kits and eagerly affixed the baskets and lamps onto the Rotary bikes with their shiny new tools. – a wonderful start to their new bicycle repair business!

It was a magnificent day and tremendously rewarding for all of us to be able to provide this help to 52 landmine-affected families who had never received support before.

As most of rural Cambodia, Koas Krala District’s main industry is agriculture, with rice farming the main source of income. Most people don’t own their own rice field, but work on fields owned by the wealthy. Rice fields are harvested two to three times a year resulting in families only making sporadic income.

According to Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, poverty rates are highest in the rural areas where 90.5% of the poor live. Over 40% live far below the poverty line. The average annual family income in rural areas is US$197.00.  The cost of a bicycle is out of the question for these families. 

Life is a constant struggle for landmine victims, as many are unable to do the strenuous labor required for most rural jobs. Providing food for their families is difficult. They are the poorest of the poor, relying on help from non-governmental organizations.

Koas Krala district in Battambang province has hectares and hectares of land still riddled by landmines. Battambang province is one of the three most heavily mined provinces. An identified 1.5% of the total population of 949,164 are people disabled by landmines.

It is for these families that a bicycle is a vital step out of poverty.  A child can attend school. A family member can go to a market to buy or sell goods. When illness befalls, a bicycle is transportation to a local clinic.

Please visit our Home Page for information on how to donate.  Help us raise funds to provide 51 more bicycles for poor and landmine-affected children in Koas Krala. RWFL team member, Lisa McCoy, will be in Cambodia another four months – ready to coordinate more Rotary Bicycle distributions!

Gravenhurst Students Raise over $100 for Bicycles for Cambodian Children!

Gravenhurst Beechgrove students, and avid bikers, Brennan Norman and Jack Lorenz held an amazing Bake Sale at Gravenhurst High School on December 3rd which raised over $100 for 2 Rotary Bikes for children here in rural Cambodia.  This was part of the 'Do Something' program where students raise money to help a friend, neighbor, community organization, etc.

A Big Applause for Brennan and Jack and their astounding efforts to help provide bicycles to students in need of this vital transportation.

Landmine Survivors Arrive to Receive Support and Rotary Bicycles

November 20, rural Koas Krala.

Rotary Wheels for Learning has delivered 24 bicycles to children of landmine survivors in Koas Krala district, Battambang Province, Cambodia.


We need 51 bicycles to fulfill our Phase 2 committment for these impoverished children.

Visit this site's home page to donate.

Rotary Wheels for Learning Distributes 75 Bicycles to Children in Rural Cambodia

Ecstatic children waiting to receive their Rotary Bicycles!

 October 17^th RWFL Distribution Report from Lisa McCoy in Cambodia

The monsoon season here in Cambodia has been particularly devastating this year with 11 lives lost and countless families left homeless.

Just days before our first Rotary Wheels for Learning scheduled distribution, I had first-hand experience of what it was like to be stranded in over meter-high floods waters.  I was just outside of Phnom Penh staying with RWFL local coordinator Vanthon and family when the rain and wind began.  In a matter of five hours, the rain had severely flooded the whole neighborhood, resorting families to go to their rooftops.

It took a week for the water to drain and then people could assess their damage and try to resume their already difficult lives.  People in many rural areas were stranded much longer. Vital rice crops had been damaged.

Many main roads had been underwater, bridges washed out and rivers had broken their banks…I was concerned as to whether we would be able to get our truck of 75 Rotary Bicycles down to the rural villages in Takeo province- an 87km trip from Phnom Penh!

But, we had to try. It’s not an easy thing to just postpone a bicycle distribution to children who live in rural areas!  Villages families live far apart as most are farmers working a rice field. They have no telephones. Families had been notified in person of the Rotary Bicycle Distribution date a couple of weeks ahead of time.  It would have been difficult to notify 75 families that the distribution had to be postponed – disappointing to the children also.  Most families can’t afford a bicycle. For a child – receiving a bicycle is one of the biggest moments in their life.

So, we hoped for the monsoons to subside, kept informed of road conditions and decided that one way or another, we would get that truck of bicycles down to Takeo.

Amazingly, the sun showed its face on the morning of Sunday, October 17^th, and our truck of bicycles and van of volunteers set out for Takeo province at 6am. We had chosen an alternate route when we heard that National Road #2 was flooded – taking #3 instead. We arrived at Trapeang Tasome village in Takeo by 8:30am only encountering one area of road that was flooded.

ALL the children and their families were there anxiously waiting when we arrived at the village chief’s house beside Big Love School.

Parents and children were dressed in the very, very best clothes that they own. Village, commune, and district officials and all area teachers were present. Everyone had come from miles around to see the children receive Rotary Bicycles!

While our team of volunteers unloaded, set up and numbered each bicycle, I was greeted by many families with the traditional Khmer greeting of bowed heads and hands together in prayer position. Parents and grandparents came up to me to touch me, smile and thank me for giving bicycles to their children. I could not understand their words but their message of appreciation could not be mistaken.

Cambodian people love to celebrate and hold a ceremony for any event out of the ordinary. Weddings last 2 days here, funerals much longer! It is customary here.

75 bicycles coming to a village for the children is a HUGE event warranting a proper ceremony.  All the government officials, teachers gave speeches thanking Rotary. They encouraged the children to attend school regularly and study hard. They were told not to sell their bicycles.  I gave a short speech on behalf of Rotary that was translated by area teacher Ban Van.

Then it came time for each child’s name to be called out and then proceed to the front desk to sign the form to receive their bike.

Most of the kids were scared.....a couple even cried signing the form.  Some can't even talk! This is truly such a big event in their life! Imagine that you are a poor kid living in a hut, have never been outside your village, and this huge opportunity comes your way where you get a free bike from a strange white person.

Once they signed the form, one of the volunteers would bring them to our volunteer photographers, who would take a photo of each child with their Rotary Bike – another unusual experience for the children as poor people don’t own a camera.  But many times, after we take the photo, we will show the child the digital image of themselves on the camera and that produces a big smile!

It’s simply a wonderful and overwhelming experience – just impossible to convey with words!  So, Rotarians – you’ll just have to come over to Cambodia next year and get first-hand experience of giving out Rotary Bicycles!

Lisa McCoy,

RWFL Field Coordinator

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Here's a lovely letter of thanks from village teacher, Tim Vet:


Dear Lisa,

How are you today? I am so happy to see here on offering bicycle day. I am so happy for my children who got every thing from your love. I hope that we have many good works in my country. May God bless you to take care of you for your works in Cambodia long time. I hope to see and work with you soon.

Love,

Vet

Your donation of $50 provides a rural child in Cambodia with necessary transportation to get to school. Please see this site's home page for information on how to donate.  We need your help to raise funds for 75 bicycles for rural children in Battambang province. You will receive a photo and short biographical information on your sponsored child.

With holiday season approaching - consider giving the gift of a Rotary Bicycle in the name of someone special on your gift-giving list!

In Canada, tax receipts will be issued by the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst.

For those on Facebook - Be sure to visit the Rotary Wheels for Learning Facebook Page

Rotary Wheels for Learning - 75 Bicycles Distributed in a Takeo Province Village in Cambodia

Click on the above photo to link to a picasa web album to view the first photos of yesterday's Rotary Wheels for Learning Bicycle Distribution. 75 Rotary Bicycles were distributed to rural children in Takeo province, Cambodia.

Visit this site's home page for information how you can sponsor a child for $50 with a much-needed bicycle for school.  We are now trying to raise funds for 75 bicycles for rural children in mine-infested Battambang province.  Many of the Rotary Bicycle recipients will be those of landmine survivors.

First Phase of RWFL heavily supported by donors - how about helping more children go to school?

The Rotary Wheels for Learning (RWFL) Committee is pleased to announce that $3,543.00 in funding for the first phase of the program has been raised within a week of the announcement of the project by the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst.

This distribution will take place in Trapeng Tasome village, Takeo Province in mid-October and is the first phase of three planned for Cambodia.

Thanks to the generous donations received from across Ontario, Canada, 75 impoverished rural children will now receive a Rotary Bicycle that will enable them to get to school.

A very special thank you to John Chow and Kathy Glazer-Chow and family of Toronto for their overwhelming donation of 21 bicycles. Also, heartwarming thanks to Gavin Newell of Aurora for his donation of 21 bicycles.

International Committee member, Lisa McCoy, will arrive in Cambodia on October 5^th to begin implementation of this exciting first phase along with local Project Coordinator, Un Vanthon, and local teacher Ban Ven. Progress updates will soon follow on this blog site.

We are now raising funds for Phase Two – 75 Rotary Bicycles for children in remote Koas Krala District in Battambang Province, Cambodia.   We need your help to raise $3,450.00 for this phase that will focus on the children of rural landmine-affected families as well as to those children living in the poorest of circumstances.

You can view the Phase Two Project Proposal at :
https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0BzCUbudJO9DpZDYwMjE3OWEtMTg4Yy00N2NjLWJlZDQtY2MwZDMxMDE4OWY0&hl=en

Cambodia has the largest percentage of amputees in the world.  Battambang Province has 7,000 identified landmine survivors – many with large families living in conditions far below the poverty level. Battambang province is one of the three most heavily mine-infested provinces in the country.  It is typically farmers working in the field or children on their way to school who are casualties of these deadly remnants of war.

Your donation will provide them with a safe and efficient way to school!

RWFL Committee members Nancy Beal and Lisa McCoy recently gave a Rotary Wheels for Learning presentation at our Rotary District 7010 Conference in Peterborough, Ontario.  Many Fellow-Rotarians expressed an interest in becoming involved in a future Bicycle Distribution Trip to Cambodia!

So, let’s hear from you!  If there are 15-20 Rotarians (spouses welcome) who would like to become involved in a distribution trip, send us an email at: rotarywheelsforlearning@gmail.com.  We would like to also know your preferred date for this trip. We are looking at October 2011 or January 2012.

Approximate cost for this trip would cost $4,000-$4,500 per person.  It would include return airfare, accommodation, ground transportation and meals.  A portion of this cost would go to providing Rotary Bicycles to children in rural areas.  Entrance fees to sightseeing venues and a weekend trip to Siem Reap to see the Angkor Wat World Heritage Site are not included in the cost.

The trip would be approximately 17 days and fully guided.  Giving out bicycles to rural children will be the highlight of this trip, but there will also be opportunities to volunteer in local schools, give out donations that you bring along, visit Handicap International, take a boat to visit people living in the floating villages, visit the Toul Sleng Museum and ‘Killing Fields’, Royal Palace and National Museum, the Canadian Landmine Museum, plus much more.

A similar ‘Sweat Equity’ trip was taken by District 7070 Rotarians in November 2009 and an exciting time was had by all that got involved in school-building project there.  Let’s duplicate this wonderful Rotary international experience-of-a-lifetime and give out 250 Rotary Bicycles, or more directly to the neediest children of Cambodia – Give them the ‘Wheels for Learning’.

Rotary Wheels for Learning is now on Facebook - visit us there!

For information on how to donate, please read the blog entry below.

Help a child in a developing country.
Provide valuable transportation for their much-needed education.

Your donation of $50 will provide a rural child with a sturdy bicycle equipped with a basket, carrier, lamp, lock and proudly displays the Rotary logo.

 

The Rotary Wheels for Learning Bicycle Distribution Program currently supports the children of Cambodia – one of the poorest nations in the world. Schools are few and far between. Many of the children have to walk up to 10 kilometers one way to attend school. Most parents can't afford the cost of school AND the transportation to get to school. As a result the child doesn't attend school at all. When provided with a Rotary Wheels for Learning bicycle, it makes attending school possible for a child. In most instances the recipient’s families also benefit. They use the bicycle outside school hours for the simple basics needed to survive day to day, such as going to the local market or a medical clinic.

Donors are provided with short biographical information and a photo of their sponsored child with their Rotary Bicycle. Please provide us with your email address if you have one so we can email you the photographs and forms of your sponored children. These will be sent by post if you do not have an email address.

In Canada, tax receipts will be issued for your donation. Donations of 50 or more bicycles greatly reduces the cost per bike.

A full description of the project is available upon request.

A Way to School with Rotary Wheels!

For more information contact:

Patrick Bongers,

Chair, International Service Committee,
Rotary Club of Gravenhurst,

‘Rotary Wheels for Learning’

rotarywheelsforlearning@gmail.com

705-689-1646 (residence)

To Donate:

Make your cheque payable to:

Rotary Club of Gravenhurst

In memo field:

‘Rotary Wheels for Learning’

Mail to:

Rotary Club of Gravenhurst

Box 888, Gravenhurst, Ontario,
Canada, P1P 1V2

The Rotary Club of Gravenhurst Ontario Canada Inc.
Revenue Canada Business Identification (Charitable Reg.) #89155-6847 RR0001

Rotary Wheels for Learning Committee Members:

Nancy Beal, Pat Bongers, Jim Goodwin, Lisa McCoy, Bill Rathbun

If your group, club or organization would like to book a Rotary Wheels for Learning presentation, please contact the above.

Upcoming Presentations:

Rotary Club of Bracebridge-Muskoka Lakes - September 21, 2010
Rotary District 7010 Conference - Peterborough - September 25, 2010
Rotary Club of Huntsville - October 27, 2010