Janice and Peter Nikkel of 91原创 are embarking on a 220 km ride for The Wellspring Foundation for Education鈥檚 Lake2Lake Ride for Rwandan school children, Oct. 1 and 2 in the Okanagan.
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 91原创 while training for the 300 km Seattle to Portland ride to raise funds for Wellspring.
Ben鈥檚 mother, Helga Farrant, said that her son had poured himself into helping to found Wellspring, determined to help heal a nation decimated by genocide.
鈥淏en would be so proud of each rider鈥� who has chosen to ride for this cause, she added.
Janice Nikkel has been recruiting people to join this fully supported ride and hadn鈥檛 really thought about doing the ride herself. However, once she made the decision to ride, she cajoled her husband to ride with her. He agreed.
鈥淲ellspring is making a significant difference in the lives of thousands of children in public schools throughout Rwanda,鈥� she said, 鈥渁nd I want to find partners here to help expand the work.鈥�
Most recently, the Rwandan government invited Wellspring鈥檚 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 has never seriously cycled but has started training for this cause. Her husband is a high school music and English teacher.
In March, the couple went to Rwanda and saw first hand the work of Wellspring.
鈥淣ot 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.鈥� Janice Nikkel said.
Wellspring has also helped create and supports a network of more than 800 teachers called the Association of Committed Teachers (ACT Rwanda).
鈥淩wanda 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鈥檒l make it up the Okanagan hills on a bike that won鈥檛 be laden with anything,鈥� she said.
It has been 17 years since the 1994 genocide decimated Rwanda鈥檚 education system, political stability and health care. The genocide has been compared to the equivalent of three 9/11s every day for 100 days. Today, she said, there is a window of opportunity to help the next generation of Rwandans through quality education.
Since 2004, the 91原创-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.
Rwandans are still working to overcome the legacy of the 1994 genocide, and Nikkel said that proper education is a key to this process. 鈥淵et many children learn in overcrowded classrooms with 60 to 100 students,鈥� she pointed out.
鈥淭eachers lack certification, ongoing training, resources, and adequate pay. Morale is low and absenteeism is rampant. It鈥檚 an overwhelming situation. But there is hope.鈥�
To learn more about these initiatives and how you can get involved, visit www.thewellspringfoundation.com to find out more.
She challenges others to become 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. If you can help the Nikkels 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.
