x
Breaking News
More () »

Idaho volunteers travel to Cambodia to deliver 'Pedals and Packs'

A group from The Wassmuth Center for Human Rights is traveling to Cambodia to help students in need by giving them bikes so they can travel to and say in school.

BOISE -- We know just how generous the Idaho community is. Early Friday morning, a group of Idahoans started their journey to take that helping spirit to a community a long way from the Gem State.

A group of volunteers from Boise’s Wassmuth Center began their trip to Cambodia at the Boise airport early Friday.

Their goal is to continue the Wassmuth Center's “Pedals and Packs” project.

Over the last year, volunteers have been working hard across the Treasure Valley to raise money so they can buy and gift Cambodian kids bicycles as well as backpacks,

Because the journey to school can be very long and difficult on foot, the donated bikes help keep kids in school. Without them, many kids drop out and give up on their education.

The group will be buying the bikes locally from shops in Cambodia. Most will be in new condition, but volunteers will also be tasked with repairing beaten down bikes they come across. The group raised enough money to buy about 200 bikes.

Volunteers say the program has been very successful over the last few years, and that they are excited to go back and help again.

"The scene of the students riding away from school on their bikes, makes it all worth it. Because we know how they got their that morning, they walked miles to comes to school, and it's great to see them on their bikes riding away,” said Dan Prinzing, Executive Director for the Wassmuth Center.

The group will also be gifting kids with handmade dolls made in Boise as well as bilingual coloring books created by a Boise High School student who is on the trip.

For more on the Pedals and Packs project, click here.

Before You Leave, Check This Out