Vale of Belvoir LionsOrdinary people doing amazing things - (Registered Charity No 1033280)
Vale of Belvoir Lions Archive - Back to index
Rwanda Container Loading and Bicycle Amnesty
Venue: Queens Park Industrial Estate Nottingham on 19th September 2010
During the Summer 2010, the Vale of Belvoir Lions Club were approached by Julie Langstaff from Bingham through fellow Lion Chloe, for assisitance in helping to source bicycles of any condition for shipping to Rwanda.
Julie has helped raise money for charities in Rwanada for the past three years, and only last year became involved in the care centre Les Enfants de Dieu which cares for boys that once lived on the streets of Rwanda.
The lastest project was to load up a 40ft steel container provided by the Notts Police aid Convoys full of items on the centre’s wish list.
The Vale of Belvoir Lions were asked they could find bicycles in any condition that could be renovated by a youth organisation in Newark which could then be loaded into the container. The bikes would be used for boys of all ages to fetch water and supplies from nearby towns and villages.
The lions held a bike amnesty at several events, and through word of mouth managed to gather up approximately 100 bike’s. The bikes were well received by julie who was overwhelmed by the response from the Lions. Further this the Lions offered man-power assistance for loading the container to which serveral volunteers stepped forward.
Once the container was full and the doors locked shut, an official send off event was held on 19th September 2010, where a local band was invited, all those who helped with this project and of course the Vale of Belvoir Lions.
The send off was a tearful affair for Julie who has put in so much effort with her team of peple to make this project happen.
The Lions are proud to have helped and were thanked for their endevours by Julie personally;
"The Vale of Belvoir Lions have also been a great support. I did a presentation for them and they collected 100 bikes for us. They have also been raising money for us to take out there."
Also see;
Update from Jules, posted on 14th Feb 2011
Hi Dermot
I arrived back from Rwanda just over a week ago having met the container once it had cleared customs after 3 weeks of being detained!
The whole process was just unbelievable, the help and support and distribution was fantastic.
The 40 bikes we were able to send were received by the Street boys at the centre and I have attached some photos. The remainder of the bikes are at a warehouse in Newark and will be going later on this year. With so much promised to so many we had to equally distribute the container space.
We took videos of the boys riding the bikes and hundreds of photos. My friend Paul stayed at the centre and showed the boys how to repair the bikes and maintain them. There was a bike riding session every day with 3 boys allocated to a cycle. Some could not ride but very very quickly learned, we had a few escapees out of the centre showing them off but when they were told they could not ride the next day that soon stopped.
I am trying to arrange an evening of film and socialising and I will let you know when that is. I am also happy to give an update talk at the lions.
PLEASE pass on our eternal thanks from so many happy boys in Rwanda you all have made a huge difference.
Kindest regards
Jules Langstaff
