Rotary Club of Gravenhurst Donates $1,500 for 'Rotary Bikes' in Cambodia

37 MORE 'Rotary Bicycles' will be distributed to needy rural students here in Cambodia on March 21st - thanks to the generosity of the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst,Ontario, Canada (District 7010).

This Rotary Club project will be conducted here on the ground with the help of Khmer volunteers/translators and rural teachers. Good friend and volunteer, Mr. Un Vanthon and family will be accompanying me back into the this area (see previous posting on 'Phnom Penh's only Rotary Tuk Tuk'). Also accompanying me and helping with the distribution is good friend and volunteer Pauline Johns from Australia. The target area will be villages around Trapeng Tasom in rural Takeo province (see map on this page).

The Bike Recipients have already been identified and home-interviewed, and the bulk bike order has been placed with the wholesaler in Phnom Penh.

On Sunday, March 21st, the bike recipients will gather at a local government school to receive their Rotary bicycles in a small bike distribution ceremony with village chief and teachers present. A total iof 40 bikes will be given out - 37 from the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst and 3 from 'A Mine Free World Foundation' (AMFW)donors.

This is the third large Rotary Bicycle Distribution to occur in Cambodia this winter. The Rotary Club of Bracebridge-Muskoka Lakes had donated 118 bicycles and the Rotary Club of Orillia had contributed 42. 2 other large disributions funded by AMFW donors which brought the total to 230 bicycles that were donated to rural children in the provinces of Takeo, Kep, Siem Reap, and the outskirts of Phnom Penh.

The distribution on March 21st will be the last one conducted until my return to Cambodia the beginning of October 2010.

Recently, I have been in discussion with the Trailblazer Foundation ( www.thetrailblazerfoundation.org ) here in Cambodia. They are the organization that implemented The 'Muskoka School' Project here on the ground in Cambodia. In a collaborative effort, we would like to conduct a large Rotary Bike Distribution for the 'Muskoka School' children in Ta Trav village, Siem Reap district area next winter!

Any Rotary Club wishing to support this future Bike Distribution Project can contact me at 705-687-8538 or at http://schoolsforcambodia@gmail.com . Let's get 'Rotary Wheels For Learning' to our 'Muskoka School' kids in need here in Cambodia.

Individual donors can make their contribution through www.aminefreeworld.org

Thanks Rotary for the difference made towards the educational needs of children in rural Cambodia. I will be back in Canada on April first, but am already itching to get back and give out more bicycles out to the rural children here!