Rotary Ireland donate the 2000th bike for Jole Rider Bikes-2-Africa

In this video, Rotary Ireland donate the 2000th bike for Jole Rider Bikes-2-Africa Rotary Ireland are celebrating reaching their target of collecting 2000 bikes from across Ireland which have been donated and refurbished and are now set to be distributed to children in Africa in desperate need of better access to education. Rotarians from across the country, North, South, East and West have tirelessly worked together to facilitate the collection and refurbishment of unwanted bikes which are then delivered to JOLE RIDER, a charity which distributes them to schools in West Africa. The project which has been ongoing for 5 years pulls most of the 73 Rotary Clubs in Ireland together and this week sees the team of dedicated humanitarians celebrate their hoped for target of dispatching the 2000th bike from Ireland before Christmas 2016. Trevor Stewart, from Lisburn Rotary Club was instrumental in setting up the project in Ireland is delighted to reach such a momentous number of bikes; “We have been blown away by the support for this wonderful project not only from Rotarians in Ireland but also those people who have sought us out and donated their bikes to what we truly believe is an amazing cause. Our ongoing relationship with the JOLE RIDER Bikes 4 Africa Project means that over 2000 young people living in extreme conditions now have access to education. Children living in rural Africa can have as much as a 20 mile round trip walk to attend their closest school but, with two wheels, they can arrive fresh and ready to learn, rather than being totally exhausted. I’d like to express my thanks to all those who have helped us to reach this impressive figure by donating either their old bikes or indeed their time and effort.” Partnering with Loughan House Open Centre, an open low security prison in County Cavan, Rotary Ireland are also helping to make a difference locally by playing an important role in the rehabilitation of prisoners who are soon to be released back into society; Governor Eddie Mullins, says the project has given the prisoners a real sense of community and something to be proud of as they help to make a positive impact on the lives of the young people in Africa. “At Loughan House we aim to offer a number of activities that will help to rehabilitate our prisoners and provide them with skills that will be useful when they are reintroduced to society, the project provides them with the expertise to become bicycle engineers and to even gain a City and Guilds Qualification which we are confident many can use to make a better life upon their release. They have worked hard and with passion to raise funds to buy the spare parts they need and gain the qualifications on offer and should be thanked for being part of this exciting project which sees us send 2000 bikes from Ireland to those in Africa who are in desperate need of our help. CEO and joint founder of JOLE RIDER, David Swettenham has expressed his congratulations and thanks to all those who have made a difference in Africa; “Over time, we have seen and heard at first hand in Africa the impact the Bikes 4 Africa programme has on school students in terms of their education and their future prospects. Importantly of course, the loan of a bicycle by a school makes an immediate positive impact for each student lucky enough to be awarded one. The real value however comes later. Improved access to school over time brings the result of higher academic achievement. 5 or more years on and the benefit of the bicycles is seen in career opportunities leading to higher earnings for themselves and their families. Another generation on and the effect impacts on a nation. This work wouldn’t be happening if it wasn’t for the numerous Rotary Clubs around the UK, and particularly in Ireland, who have set about the collection of bicycles. Couple this sterling work with that done by prisoners in preparing the bicycles for use in Africa and it’s “one joined up success for humanity!” Today we applaud and celebrate the contribution and tremendous achievement made by Rotary Clubs across the length and breadth of Ireland and, not least, all the guys at Loughan House. The 2000 bicycles impacts on as many as 20,000 young lives. Who could think it? That said, the future for this programme, starting in 2017 with the opening of a new destination in Sierra Leone, looks more exciting than ever. JOLE RIDER with its partners looks forward to delivering a greater and well deserved impact for many more young students in more remote parts of Africa.”