Lattitude Global Volunteering supporters Sam Conway and Mike Harwood recently completed a London to Paris bike ride to raise funds for a Lattitude Global Volunteering project in India.
Both keen cyclists, Sam and Mike previously cycled from Norwich to Yorkshire to Oxford in 2010, Aberystwyth to London in 2011, and so in 2012 and looking for a new challenge, decided on London to Paris! Having previously done their bike rides ‘just for fun’ (though how cycling 60 miles a day in blazing sun/torrential rain/freezing wind up steep hills, all the while carrying tent to camp in at night, exactly counts as ‘fun’ I’m not exactly sure!) they decided they’d like to fundraise for a charity this time. They decided to raise funds for Lattitude Global Volunteering, a small international youth development charity and specifically for their project Blue Diamond English School where, through Lattitude, Sam’s girlfriend Abby volunteered as an English Teacher.
Blue Diamond School in 2006
Blue Diamond English School is a small rural school for underprivileged children in a remote village in North East India. Since 2006 (when Abby volunteered there) Lattitude Global Volunteering have been sending volunteers twice a year to teach English and live with the host family who own the school. Not only has the school really begun to flourish and develop through receiving volunteers, but the intercultural exchange between both Lattitude volunteers and the hosts at the school have grown ever stronger, both equally giving to each other opportunity to learn about different cultures and a way to benefit their lives.
And the school has definitely seen progress since receiving volunteers. They have been able to improve on the standard of education, particularly in teaching English, that they can offer their students, something which is of great importance to young people in India, enabling them to set sights on a better future. As Mr Thapa, host of Blue Diamond English School wrote in an email recently to Lattitude Global Volunteering:
‘We are very much thankful to you and Latitude Organisation and to the country manager for this great helps.’
As the school’s relationship with Lattitude volunteers develops so does the school itself and as such it has gone under much construction and development work to improve conditions for students and the facilities the school can offer. However, due to lack of funds and recent heavy monsoon rains, crucial development of the school ground has had to go on hold. Therefore, Sam and Mike have been raising funds to help support the construction work in the hope that it can continue and be completed as soon as possible.
Blue Diamond School in 2012
The school building under current construction developments for extension
Current building work being done on the school
Sam and Mike set off from London 10:30am on the 10th August, tweeting “incidentally, beautiful weather for a bike ride - hope it holds out…” They then cycled across London to Gatwick and then on to Newhaven to take the ferry across to France, arriving in Dieppe at 4am on the 11th August. From there they cycled for 2 days, encountering tough times: “Tough mornings cycling through the cold and dark - coffee and croissant greatly appreciated” and “Lack of water biggest problem today - France literally shuts down Sundays” to arrive in Paris “Parc de St Cloud - first sight of the Eiffel Tower” at 6:35pm on the 13th August! Completing the 250 mile challenge in 3 days, they made excellent time and, more importantly, have raised £315 for Blue Diamond School!
Sam about to set off from London on his bike
Mike proudly showing off their arrival under the Eiffel tower in Paris!
As Mr Thapa, host of Blue Diamond School wrote just before their adventure:
‘Your efforts and thought are unimagination. So we fills that you are one of the important supporting piller of this Blue Diamond. Mr Sam and his friend’s venture may success with great deal. Best wishes to them from the whole Blue Diamond families.’
Lattitude Global Volunteering would like to thank Sam and Mike for their great effort in raising funds for a Lattitude project. We strive to be able to continue to support our hosting placements so that we can continue to send young people overseas to volunteer, making a difference to the lives of young people all over the world.
Sam and Mike will keep their Virgin Money Giving page open until the 11th September for any last minute donations. If you wish to donate, please click here.
You can also see all the photos from their trip and of the construction work being done at Blue Diamond that the money raised will go towards, please click here.