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Wheels of Hope

Written by: 
Jacob Seigel-Boettner
Jacob and kids

One camera, one country, one dream...

On February 27th, 2008, I set off for Rwanda to take up the role of Project Rwanda Intern. My Global Poverty and Practice Minor at UC Berkeley requires that I do an internship for a development organization, and given my obsession for the bicycle (I am on the Cal Cycling Mountain Bike Team), PR seemed like the perfect fit. My goal: to help Benjo, Achille, and Douglas set up a shop network to support the growing fleet of coffee bikes.

Cyclocross raises funds for bike shop in Rwanda

Written by: 
KERRY BENEFIELD and MARTIN ESPINOZA
The Press Democrat
Minutes after he finished the hourlong cyclocross race - a hybrid of mountain bike and road racing - Eric Muensterman's heart was still pounding.

"It definitely pushed you very hard," said Muensterman, a 17-year cycling veteran who races for Capoforma cycling apparel. "It was a very difficult race and a lot of bigwigs came out."

Brad and Angelina get their jerseys

SBMS Teen Press present Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt with Project Rwanda Jerseys. Academy Award? and three-time Golden Globe winner Angelina Jolie was honored on Saturday, February 2, 2008 at the 23rd annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival with the Outstanding Performance of the Year Award for her critically acclaimed performance in ?A Mighty Heart?. The Santa Barbara International Film Festival is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching local culture and raising consciousness of film as an art form.

Rwanda: Farmers boost profits with "coffee bikes"

Rwandan farmer Celestin rides his coffee bike
Celestin riding a Coffee Bike.
Farm Radio Weekly
Célestin grows his coffee in the Kabara region of Rwanda. Like many other coffee farmers, he is only able to transport about 50 kilograms of coffee cherries on an old bicycle. Most of the roads he travels are unpaved. Often, he has to push his old bike through many kilometres of steep hills and valleys to get to a coffee washing station.Célestin was one of the first to try the “coffee bike.” With this new bicycle, he can now transport up to 200 kilograms of coffee cherries. The coffee bike allows him to pedal with ease through Rwanda’s hilly countryside. He says the new bike halves the time it takes him to travel from the field to the washing station.

Project Rwanda uses bikes to rebuild

Written by: 
Nick Lees

Edmonton Jornal
EDMONTON - Specially designed bikes are replacing hand-carved wooden bikes in Rwanda's coffee fields and helping a nation recover from civil war and genocide that claimed nearly one million lives.

"A bike may seem an unusual tool to use in a country's economic development," said Achille Karuletwa.

"But it is the ideal transport tool to help rebuild the coffee business destroyed in the 1994 country-wide genocide."

Coffee bikes a global project to aid Rwanda

Written by: 
Nick Lees
Edmonton Jornal
The Coffee Bike

Introducing our new Rwanda Director: Achille Karuletwa

Project Rwanda is pleased to announce a new addition to our team - Achille Karuletwa. Achille has signed on to be our Rwanda Director and will set up an office in Kigali, Rwanda. Achille, who has been longing to return to Rwanda to make a contribution to the recovery of his country, will relocate his family back to his homeland. This is a significant development for Project Rwanda as we will gain an authentic Rwandan voice, a person who speaks the language and knows the culture.

Tom Ritchey - Pedaling Home

Written by: 
Chris Ahrens
Risen

Scallywags in Rwanda

Scallywags Shop Door

Scallywags Inc., located in Minneapolis, MN, demonstrates the power of personal action by incorporating a mind set of continued community action and service into their business plan. In working to improve the community and help those less fortunate get back on their feet, this company provides an inspiring model of fair trade in a global economy.

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