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Support Cal Cyclists Working with Project Rwanda
Wed, 04/16/2008 - 7:04pm
At the end of May, seven Cal Cyclists will be traveling to Rwanda to work with Project Rwanda on the Coffee Bike Project. We will be assembling 'coffee bikes', training mechanics and setting up a network of bicycling cooperatives that serve independent coffee farmers.
The goal of the Coffee Bike Project is to help Rwanda by helping its farmers. Mountain bike legend Tom Ritchey has designed and shipped special 'coffee bikes' to Rwanda to distribute among the independent farmers through a special micro-loan system. These bikes have been designed to carry extremely large loads of raw coffee beans to the washing stations in a shorter amount of time. This results in a fresher product that the farmers can then sell at a higher price. You can find out more about the the bike and the amazing work that Project Rwanda does at http://projectrwanda.org
We are looking to raise awareness about the project and to gain support from the local cycling community. You can help us in two ways:
1. We are collecting spare tools that people might have laying around that we will use to supply farmers and the cooperatives so that they can maintain their bicycles.
2. We are soliciting donations to help fund our trip. Funds will be used for airfare and transport of materials to Rwanda.
We will be at the Berkeley Art Museum Criterium (http://wccc-info.com/2008/Road/flyers/2008_UCB.pdf) on April 20th collecting tools. If you can't make it to the race, please contact us and we'll try to arrange a time to pick up the tools from you.
Donations can be made through the Project Rwanda website at http://projectrwanda.org/Donate.php . You can either donate online via Paypal or by filling out a donation form and mailing it to Project Rwanda. Please make sure that you select the box that shows that donations should go to the Cal Cycling trip. You do not have to select a specific rider if you want the donation to go to the group.
Thank you for your support,
Josh Adelman
Elliot Brenner
Alvin Chang
Gretchen Faust
Josh Jamner
Maureen Kunz
Wes Willett
This is a tough one. I think people should be given a second chance once they've paid their debts, but this situation just does not look good. Boyer appears to be working with the same kind of population he used to (hopefully its only "used to") vicitmize. Whether Project Rwanda wants to legitimize Boyer's current role by featuring him on their website and listing him as a partner should be the board's call - I hope they are aware of the situation and I hope the Rwandan authorities are also aware. It may be better to have the situation out in the open, but I can't help but think that there might be a better and safer way for Boyer to make a positive contribution. Project Rwanda's work is admirable, but this situation does point out how vulnerable volunteer organizations can be.
James Rosberg
atanaka wrote:I spoke with Josh about this situation today. Unfortunately, the fact that Boyer is on the board of directors has soured many on supporting this wonderful cause.
"The fact"?? Did anyone bother to check if he's on the board before opening their trap and giving people a (false) reason not to give to this ambitious organization? Apparently not. Shame on you Woo & tanaka.
A board runs a nonprofit so it's fair to look at who's on it. But Guidestar.org indicates there are only four directors, based on tax and corporate filings. Projectrwanda.org lists the actual Board of Directors as Ritchey, Cooper, Cusack, Jackson (4). I don't see how you could get this so wrong, it's right there on the site.
Boyer has worked with the Rwandan racing team and from all appearances is doing charitable work consistent with that whole penance and redemption theme. Who knows, maybe Jock is trying to pay back that big debt owed to the moral bank. I don't see the point in condemning that team, do you? Go and read about the things those kids have been through.
I'll send in some money, the questionable character of one volunteer is trumped by the goal of trying to help rebuild a country after a half million plus genocide, and the link to cycling. Kudos to the Cal students and Tom Ritchey for diving in and making it happen. We as a cycling community owe it to them to help out. Hold back your money to make a point about Boyer and maybe a few less dirt-poor coffee farmers get off the ground, and the nascent cycling team goes belly up. You might feel better but what does that really accomplish?
R4L
Hi everyone,
I spoke with Josh about this situation today. Unfortunately, the fact that Boyer is on the board of directors has soured many on supporting this wonderful cause. I can appreciate that everyone has an opinion on this situation, and I don't pass judgement on anyone for their position on the whole Boyer situation.
I would hope that we could just leave the facts out there and let everyone decide on their own where they stand on it. I do understand and respect the fact that everyone is entitled to their opinion and right to free speech.
Josh and the others set about this project many months ago. And from speaking with Josh, none of the men and women in their group had any knowledge about the Boyer situation until it was brought up in this forum (Josh did look into it after finding out about it). I'm aware of it, and explained it to Josh as best as I could.
I've known Josh (as well as several of the other cyclists involved in this project) for several years, from my tenure as the Western Collegiate Cycling Conference director - and I can emphatically say that beyond any shadow of doubt, the individuals in this group that I know are great people with nothing but the best of intentions.
Simply put, they want to help the people of Rwanda.
Let me state that I'm not passing judgement on Flandria or Steven (he's a friend of mine). I think highly of both of you, and respect your opinions on this very serious topic.
In closing, I hope that we can end this thread here, and let people decide where they stand on this matter on their own. If you want to know my position on this, I'd be happy to share it with you off list - I prefer to keep my response here about Josh and the others' efforts to help the people of Rwanda.
Respectfully,
Alden Tanaka
Flandria, I'm sorry that this has had an impact on your decision to support us. All I know is that Tom Ritchey and Project Rwanda are trying to make a real impact in the lives of Rwandan Farmers through bicycling and we wanted to help in that effort. All donations go directly to support our travel to Rwanda and the work we will be doing there. We are excited about the opportunity to use our love of bicycling and mechanical skills to improve lives and give back to a country that has seen such horrible tragedy. We hope that people will support us based on that fact.
Josh
Josh,
I believe SWoo's intentions are good and valid. I am glad he brought it up because this type of information is serious and should be looked into immediately.
I've been going over your website and your cause is really wonderful.
Unfortunately, the answer to SWoo's concern turned me away from helping out.
Thank you and I really think you are doing great work.
Take care.
SWoo, I have no idea, but we're a group of students who are trying to do something for Rwanda, and this sort of posting seems unnecessary and off topic.
Is this the same Jonathan Boyer on the board of directors?
http://meganslaw.ca.gov/cgi/prosoma.dll?searchby=offender&id=18603072H7196