907 Bicycles Distributed by Rotary Wheels for Learning Cambodia Team 2012!

Over the past five days, our team of 19 Rotarians and Friends from the Bracebridge and Gravenhurst Rotary Clubs have prepared and distributed another 307 bicycles here in Takeo province – making our grand total so far: 907 Bicycles!



110 Bicycles Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst



Children's Names are Called - All Line Up to Sign their Forms and Receive Their Bikes



Teachers Assist In Lining Up the Bicycle Students at Wat Vihear Kpous Primary School


^{On January 14th and 15th, our team distributed 197 bicycles to needy, rural students in Prokeab village, Trapeang Thum Commune in Takeo District. This distribution took place at the Banyan Learning Tree Centre there.
Today, 110 bicycles sponsored by the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst , Ontario, District 7010, were given out to students at Wat Vihear Kpous Primary School in Bakot village, Leaybo Commune, Takeo district. Some of the bicycles given out were for students from this school who have gone on to secondary school. Secondary schools are few and far between. Once a student passes grade six, their need for a bicycle is even greater.}

Boys Admire Their RWFL Bicycles

Happy to Have a Bike to Get to School!

 You Tube videos of this distribution can be seen at:

http://youtu.be/vzHMOafn4zc 907 of 1097 Rotary Wheels for Learning Bicycles Distributed in Cambodia

!http://youtu.be/CaEWOpDfPa8 Students Sign Forms Before Receiving Their Rotary Wheels for Learning Bicycles

A big thanks goes to Banyan Learning Tree local volunteers Om Chamnap, Chea Socheat and Phearom Noun for all their efforts in organizing these Takeo distributions – we could not have done it without their hours of hard work coordinatination.  

Local Volunteer Socheat Chea Helps a Girl to Sign her Form

In Takeo, our team also enjoyed some time off, which included a village market tour and cooking class and canal boat rides to visit the Angkor Borey Temple and Museum.

Tomorrow, we head by bus to Sihanoukville, Cambodia to enjoy a well-deserved beach break for three days. Then, it’s back to Phnom Penh for two final distributions.

Students are Really Proud to Show Off Their Rotary Bikes!

600 of 1087 Rotary Bicycles Distributed in Rural Cambodia!

 It has been a whirlwind four days for our team of Rotarians from the Bracebridge, Gravenhurst (Ontario, Canada) and Battambang (Cambodia) Rotary Clubs!

With the combined efforts of these three Rotary Clubs, and with help from the Cambodian Red Cross, 600 Rotary Wheels for Learning Bicycles have been distributed to needy rural children throughout several districts in Battambang Province, Cambodia.

Our team of 19 Rotarians and Friends arrived in Cambodia the first week of January 2012. They spent a few days adjusting to the time and temperature changes and then enjoyed a few days visiting some of the national sites in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap including the famed Angkor Wat temples.


Rotarians and Friends at Angkor Wat Sunrise

Then, it was off to Battambang to get down to the task at hand - providing rural, needy children with the necessary transportation to get to school.
In the week prior to their arrival, 600 bicycles had been shipped to several locations in Battambang province. When our team arrived at these locations, hours were spent putting all the pedals, baskets and lamps on the bikes. Many were fine-tuned by our team as well.

At the distribution locations, children were provided with Dental Hygiene Education led by Cambodian dentist Dr. Khom Pisal and our Rotarian Dentist Dr. Walter Ried. Toothpaste and Toothbrushes were provided to all the children.

At two locations, a ton of rice was provided to impoverished rural families - a total of 200, 10kg bags of rice were distributed - a project led on the ground by the Rotary Club of Battambang with help and sponsorship by the Rotary Clubs of Gravenhurst and Bracebridge.

At two school locations, donations of school supplies and clothing were provided for the schools and for HIV-infected children and families. Thanks to the many individuals, Rotarians and Patti Lee, Barbara Seagram and their Toronto Bridge Groups for their donated items.

Here follow photos of some of the Rotary Clubs who donated towards this amazing, combined Rotary Endeavor! Thanks to all for keeping the Rotary Wheels rolling!

Our team is off to Takeo province tomorrow, where we begin to prepare for our next distributions - 300 more Bicycles!

Watch our progress on You Tube:

http://youtu.be/LEiCwbKP_JM Rotarians Enjoy a Cambodian Village Cooking Class
http://youtu.be/FURCYEDt8rc Rotary Wheels for Learning Cambodia 2012 Team Distributes 190 Bicycles in Takeo Province
http://youtu.be/vd7t3bee5j4 New Library and Rotary Wheels for Learning prepares for a distribution of 190 Bicycles in Takeo province, Cambodia
http://youtu.be/gL8qZwvzH14 240 Rotary Wheels for Learning Bicycles Distributed in Battambang province Cambodia
 

5 Bicycles Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Willowdale

10 Bicycles Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Orillia-Lake Country

10 Bicycles Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Barrie-Kempenfelt

20 Bicycles Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Huntsville

President Nouv Saroeun of the Battambang Rotary Club
Presents a Rotary Bicycle to a Child at Aek Phnom Village

22 Bicycles Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Washago

32 Bicycles Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Barrie-Huronia

40 Bicycles Sponosred by the Rotary Club of Aurora

President Linda Brouilette of the Rotary Club of Bracebridge
Presents one of 40 Bicycles Distributed at a Grand Ceremony
at Thma Koul School in Battambang province

50 Bicycles Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Mississauga-Lakeshore

55 Bicycles Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Mississauga-Dixie

125 Bicycles Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Bracebridge

Bracebridge Rotary President Recieves a Certificate of Thanks for
the Donation of 100 Rotary Bicycles
from Teachers and Commune Leader
at Takou Primary School, Koas Krala, Battambang

Donna Ried Gives Clothing and School Supplies to
and HIV-infected student at Thma Koul School

On the Bus with Dr. Khom Pisal and Battambang Rotarians

Rotarians, Dentists and our Local Team Member Socheat Chea
Prepare for a distribution of 300 Toothbrushes and Toothpaste at
our Bicycle Distribution in Setoup Commune, Rotonak Mondol District, Battambang

Rotarians and Friends Travel over Rough Roads by Tractor Taxi
to Reach Takou Primary School to
Distribute 100 Rotary Bicycles

Some of the 100 Students at Takou Primary School that received
Rotary Wheels for Learning Bicycles

There's More than One Way to Carry Home a Rotary Bag of Rice!

Rotarian Walter Ried Teaches the Right Way to Brush :-)

One of the Two Tons of Rice Sopnsored by the Rotary Clubs of Gravenhurst and Bracebridge.

Rotarians & Friends Ride the Rails of the Battambang Bamboo Train
after a day's work putting together 200 Rotary Bicycles