Langley couple Janice and Peter Nikkel are riding 220 kilometres for the Wellspring Foundation for Education's Lake2Lake Ride for Rwandan school children, on Oct. 1-2.
The Lake2Lake Ride for Rwanda was launched in memory of Ben Farrant, best friend of Wellspring executive director, Richard Taylor. It was 2006 when Ben, then 25, was killed on 200 Street in Langley while training for the 300 km Seattle-to-Portland ride to raise funds for Wellspring. As Ben's mother, Helga Farrant shares, “Ben had poured himself into helping fund Wellspring, determined to help heal a nation decimated by genocide.” She adds, “Ben would be so proud of each rider” that has chosen to ride for this cause.
Janice had been recruiting people to join this fully supported ride and hadn't really thought about doing the ride herself. However, once she made the decision to ride, she cajoled her husband to ride with her. He quickly agreed.
“Wellspring is making a significant difference in the lives of thousands of children in public schools throughout Rwanda” she said, “and I want to find partners here to help expand the work.”
Most recently, the Rwandan government has invited Wellspring's teacher trainers to train all the school inspectors throughout the country.
Janice, a mother of four, and part time development officer with Wellspring admits she's never seriously cycled but she has started training for this cause. Peter is a high school music and English teacher.
In March, Peter and Janice went to Rwanda and saw the work of Wellspring first hand.
Janice observed, “Not only has Wellspring created one of the top schools in Rwanda with the Wellspring Academy, but the school development program that currently works in 41 public schools impacts over 50,000 children and is gaining attention throughout Africa as a proven method of transforming the next generation.”
Wellspring has also helped create and supports a network of over 800 teachers called the Association of Committed Teachers (ACT Rwanda).
“Rwanda is called the land of a thousand hills. While there we would see Rwandans riding bikes laden with bananas and other supplies up these hilly roads. Often it would take two people to push these bikes up a hill. I am trusting I'll make it up the Okanagan hills on a bike that won't be laden with anything,” says Janice.
It has been 17 years since the 1994 genocide decimated Rwanda's education system, political stability and health care. The genocide has been compared to three 9/11s every day for one hundred days. Today, there is a window of opportunity to help the next generation of Rwandans through quality education.
Since 2004, the Langley-based Wellspring Foundation for Education has been working with Rwandans to empower a new generation of leaders through education that transforms lives. There is currently a window of opportunity to help Rwanda overcome its huge educational gap and accomplish its goal of overcoming extreme poverty and transitioning towards a service based economy by the year 2020.
Today Rwandans are still working to overcome the legacy of the 1994 genocide. Quality education is a key to this process. Yet many children learn in overcrowded classrooms with 60 to 100 students. Teachers lack certification, ongoing training, resources, and adequate pay. Morale is low and absenteeism is rampant. It’s an overwhelming situation. But there is hope.
Learn more about these initiatives and how you can get involved. Visit www.thewellspringfoundation.com to find out more.
Janice would like to challenge everyone to get involved. If you see her riding around town on her bike, toot your horn to encourage her. If you would like to join the ride, registration is open at www.lake2lake.org or if you could help the Nikkel's reach their goal of $5,000, you can make a secure donation at www.thewellspringfoundation.com/lake2lake/donate
For more information on the work of Wellspring, visit www.thewellspringfoundation.com
“Everyone wants to forget Rwanda now. We can't let that happen,” said Romeo D'Allaire in “Shake Hands with the Devil.”