….I initially wrote off the idea as ludicrous; biking 750 miles through the East African nation of Tanzania to raise funds for poor Tanzanian youth to get an education? While the aim was noble, did we really need to go to such extremes? However, after doing some deep soul-searching, I reached the revelation, “Why not?” After we set the hearts of our parents and hosts at Hanga Abbey at ease with some sweet-talking and white-lies, we strapped our packs on our bikes and took off on what would be an unforgettable two weeks on the road….

“Phoenix Rising” is a bike tour across Tanzania, designed to raise funds for the Students of the Hanga Schools as well as awareness for the urgent educational needs of students throughout Tanzania.

In May of 2008, two young teaching volunteers and a monk biked over 1,400 KM from Dar es Salaam to their village of Hanga with the help of their simple “Phoenix” bicycles. The goal was to raise money for the creation of a scholarship fund to provide financial support to dedicated students of Hanga who are not able to afford the required school fees.

While the riding portion is complete, the real reason for our tour is just beginning in the classrooms of Hanga.  With your support, we have selected 23 students from the four Hanga schools to be the first recipients of the “Phoenix Rising” Scholarships.   You can read more about this in our most recent newsletter or at our website.

Phoenix Rising has been an overwhelming success and with your continued support we hope to offer scholarships to many dedicated students of Hanga for years to come.  If you would like to donate to Phoenix Rising, please send a check payable to ”Phoenix Rising” to:

Br. Lewis Grobe OSB St. John’s Abbey PO BOX 2015 Collegeville, MN 56321

Thanks again to all those who have helped in this educational cause and for giving the students of Hanga the opportunity to make a difference in their own lives!!!!