Wooden bicycles show their paces

Handmade wooden bicycles are part of daily life in rural Rwanda.They’re not playthings either, and are used as virtual trucks to move goods and often to carry water.In December 2005, Tom Ritchey [pictured with a Rwandan friend] and Gary Boulanger, directors of Servant Leaders Outreach, toured Rwanda by mountain bike. A short DVD documentary was filmed to capture their Rwandan experience, the first for both. The trip opened their eyes to the beauty of the people and the need to assist Rwanda in its continuing reconciliation 12 years after the genocide that killed nearly one million people in 100 days.By February 2006, Project Rwanda was established.It’s vision is to “further the economic development of Rwanda through initiatives based on the bicycle as a tool and symbol of hope. Our goal is use the bike to help boost the Rwandan economy as well as re-brand Rwanda as a beautiful and safe place to do business and visit freely.”