"40 with Friends" – 40 bikes for 40 years

Hi, my name is Carole Ann Waid. This year I am turning 40 and wanted my birthday to be something I could look back on with fond memories. I decided to have a Charity Gala for my party. I was so excited when my husband found Project Rwanda. We chose this as our charity since I lived in Rwanda in 1992 and 1993. I worked there as a short-term missionary with the International Mission Board. While I was there, I fell in love with Rwanda and it’s people. My best friend from Rwanda even lives in the states now and we are still in touch. I lived in the capitol, Kigali, but my work allowed me to travel all over the country and work with women from many regions. I was single and living alone, but I was not lonely because the people of Rwanda were so gracious, kind, and welcoming of me everywhere I went. I was there to teach and train women about starting and running a business, but what I always tell people, is that I learned more from the people of Rwanda than I could have ever taught them.

I am so crazy about the idea of the coffee bike. When I was there I saw farmers struggling all the time to transport there crops. I think this bike can be revolutionary to the farming industry and that is why for my 40th birthday party we are trying to raise enough money for 40 bikes. We are calling it “40 with Friends” A Charity Gala for Carole Ann’s Birthday raising money for ‘40 bikes for 40 years’. We are having live entertainment by Danny Cook, door prizes, a raffle for some great donations we received, and we will also be selling Wooden Bike Coffee.

Donations can be made on line by clicking on the link, http://projectrwanda.org/donate, or in person at the Charity Gala. The pictures I have included were taken in the 90’s when I lived in Rwanda. I can’t wait to celebrate my 40th birthday and remember a great time in my life when I lived in Rwanda, Africa.