Project Rwanda was founded by Tom Ritchey, a pioneer in the mountain bike industry. Tom first visited Rwanda in 2005. He was awed by the natural beauty of the country - "the land of 1000 hills". Even more than that, Tom was inspired by the people and their stories of reconciliation and hope. Tom knew he could use his talent and resources to help make a difference - and Project Rwanda was born..

 

Project Rwanda's mission: to further the economic development of Rwanda through initiatives based on the bicycle as a tool and symbol of hope.

 

The purpose of Project Rwanda is four-fold:

Special Bike Design -Within its tiny borders Rwanda has nearly 500,000 small-holder coffee producers, harvesting an average of only 200 coffee trees each. Project Rwanda has designed a special utility bike that can quickly and efficiently transport heavy loads of coffee. This coffee bike can increase a farmer's earning potential by 30-40 percent, giving them an opportunity to rise above poverty for the first time in their generation.

Build Awareness for Rwanda - Project Rwanda aims to increase awareness for Rwanda as a tourist and cycling destination. The annual "Wooden Bike Classic" is an example of how Project Rwanda is reaching out to the world's cycling and travel/adventure communities. Rwanda is blessed with incredible natural beauty - an epic destination for adventure-seeking travelers.

National Pride - Project Rwanda has been instrumental in selecting, coaching, training, equipping, and promoting the Rwandan National Cycling Team. This new team is now participating in international cycling events, and one day hopes to represent Africa in the Olympic Games.

Bike Distribution - Project Rwanda plans to establish bike distribution to needed organizations that do not have existing grants to purchase bikes. This program is under development and will involve a "hand up" not a "hand out". Micro-finance mechanisms will subsidize the cost of these bikes, at rates that are fair and reasonable.

 

Project Rwanda is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, tax ID # 20-8332858. For more information about Project Rwanda, please visit www.projectrwanda.org.