'Cycling for education'

Sponsored cycling-tour from Bolsward to Accra

A special sponsored cycling-tour to Ghana, with the motto “Cycling for education”, starts in the Autumn of 2006. The distance between Bolsward and this West-African country, with Accra as its final destination, goes over 9600 kms and it’s a project of a foundation that has especially been set up for this. The participants hope that their tour will at least bring in 100,000 Euros for education in Ghana.

The people behind this project “Cycling for education” are really committed to improving the education in Ghana, a country 6 times larger than Holland. The initiators of this project, who even visited distant areas, got very impressed by the enormous deprivation in this country, but also by the enthusiasm of the teachers. They can do so much with so little. Ghana is a politically stable country with a democratically elected president. But it is also a poor country. There is a lack of educational facilities and infrastructure, such as water wells and facilities supplies etc. The Ghanaian government has too few resources, not only for primary education, but also for professional training (agriculture and technical education). Education can offer a country and its people a future and can create chances for an independent life.

Because Ghana is a bicycle country, just like the Netherlands, and because the largest part of the country is relatively flat, the idea grew to organise a sponsored cycling tour to the metropolis of Accra.
The departure date is August 21. They hope to be back in Holland well before Christmas. The group consists of 15 well-trained cyclists, 3 trainers for technical and medical support, for transport of food and luggage. The cyclists pay their own travelling costs. Therefore all the money raised by fundraising activities is almost entirely destined for educational projects in Ghana.

The Marne College (with approx. 1100 students) in Bolsward, is going to give large-scale support to the project in the next few years. The school will help with the organisation of the excursion as well as with financial support by means of several activities. Frisian young people want to help their Ghanaian contemporaries in this way. With relatively few means and sportive performances. You can give the children from developing countries new hope and a chance to influence their own future with good education.

The Friesland College has also joined them meanwhile. Students of the Saturnus school in Heerenveen are going to help with the purchase, construction and furnishing of the accompanying truck. They will plan the route and find out which documents are necessary. Moreover, they will develop a training in bicycle technique for the participants and find out which spare parts they will need. The Students’ help will probably be used in other areas too.

The demand for educational facilities is enormous, that’s why it’s very important to make the right decision to supporting these projects which are reliable, have a plan and are feasible: small and concrete projects which are financially well-organized and controlable. The foundation “Wilde Ganzen”, Linking Pins and the Equal Opportunity Fund for Ghana will help make the right decision. These organisations have a vast experience in this field. The larger the amount of money we get, the more projects we will be able to support.
Information about the projects we chose:
www.fietsenvooronderwijs.nl

Afterwards the website will also give you information about how the money is spent and what the results are. During the journey all projects will be visited.
If you want to keep in touch with the progress of the cycling trip and the projects which will be supported, please send an email to:
info@fietsenvooronderwijs.nl

Information

The foundation “Fietsen voor Onderwijs” has as its aim: Bringing in funds to realise education in deprived countries, especially Ghana.

Chairman:
Henk Kroes
Tanialeane 1
8635 MP Boazum
Tel. 0515-521383
e-mail: kroeshenk@hetnet.nl

Secretary:
Annemiek Asma
Kielakker 13
7971 AD Havelte
Tel: 0521-342194
e-mail: annemiek.asma@planet.nl

Treasurer:
Hadewych Nieuwe Weme
Amsterdamselaan 2
8338 KC Willemsoord
tel. 0521-577020
e-mail: nieuweweme@hetnet.nl

email address of the foundation:
info@fietsenvooronderwijs.nl

Bank account Friesland Bank:
29.27.58.693 in the name of “Stichting Fietsen voor Onderwijs” at Willemsoord