Bridging Continents and Connecting Lives

Akerfa April 2010 Newsletter

Dear Supporter,

Last week, as the sun was fighting to reach the horizon, I headed to meet Tour d’Afrique at their campsite just east of downtown Lusaka with two other Zambikes team members.

We arrived to find over 60 riders and 4 trucks bustling about to get everything prepared for that day’s long, 160km ride. This methodic procedure had been the daily routine for the riders for 2 months since they started their journey in Cairo, Egypt to finish in Cape Town, South Africa by the middle of May.

Last year, the riders on tour joined the Zambikes team for a day in Lusaka. In support of the work of Zambikes, they purchased over 50 bicycles to be distributed to local NGO’s (non-governmental organizations).The subsequent impact of those bikes has multiplied throughout the last year.

The Tour d’Afrique continued their generosity this year by purchasing an additional 54 Zambikes and 2 Zambulance trailers to be distributed. Hands At Work, an organization based in Kabwe (north of Lusaka) that supports volunteer caregivers, received 26 of the Zambikes. Chitemalesa, an organization in Chongwe (east of Lusaka), that supports home based caregivers, received the other 28 bikes and 2 Zambulance trailers.

Following the distributions, I had the opportunity to connect with the group on a more personal level as I rode four days with them from Lusaka down to Livingstone on a Zambikes bamboo bike.

In the midst of such extreme generosity and unparalleled opportunities, this is a tough time financially for both Akerfa and Zambikes.

At Zambikes, the struggle is in collecting the payment for products that have been distributed. As the “harvest” time of year is now on the horizon, the prayer is that sales will increase and Zambikes will become even more financially independent.

At Akerfa, a portion of our donor base has become unable to continue their support due to a financial crisis this year.We are praying for new donors and supporters to come through to support the development of a new project in Uganda later in the year, and to support our Akerfa staff that makes all of this happen. If you are in a position to help give or raise these funds, please prayerfully consider partnering with Akerfa.

On behalf of the entire Akerfa team we recognize and thank each of you that shared your prayers, finances, and support to help this project continue to transform lives across the globe.

Looking forward to partnering with you,

Dustin McBride

Co-founder

info@akerfa.org

Just Beginning

By: David Sacher

Some time ago a rather unusual and unnerving idea came into my mind. It was a thought that I would lose sleep over, one that simultaneously frightened and excited me. It was possible, or so I was told, but was it possible for me? Could I do it? Why would I do it?

That was the question I couldn’t answer, ‘Why? Why? Why?’ I never doubted my desire to do it, but it was a desire whose source I couldn’t find. A desire I could never fully explain nor understand, but it was a desire so deeply rooted in me, so fundamental and profound that I had no choice but to follow it. I would do it. Well, I would try. I would try until I broke. And so immediately after graduating from college I set off for Alaska alone and began a 15,000 mile bicycle journey south to Tierra Del Fuego, the end of the Americas

I had done my homework… sort of. Well, I knew I had to head south and I knew what countries lay between me and the end. I ultimately knew that if neither my mind nor my body broke in the process that I would eventually reach the end. It turned out to be enough and 7 months later – 7 months of mountains, rain, hail, wind, desert, heat, forest, cities and tundra I reached the end of the road, the end of the world.

It was an experience that put my small place in the world into perspective. It was an experience that changed who I am and who I will continue to become. It was an experience that I would never want to re-live, but one that I never want to lose.

Alone and on the road, life itself was a breaking force, a weight placed against me. It is true that the greater the effort the greater the resistance, and the world resisted my every effort with such fury that if I had been standing alone and standing only for myself I would have broken.

But I never had to stand alone; I always leaned on the love and support of the people in the world who had not forgotten me, the people who prayed for me and the people who, like me, felt small and weak and set against an unfair world.

I am now home and slowly returning to good physical and mental health. I have had the honor of meeting many of those people who wrote to me on my journey and who held me in their hearts and minds.

I have been thrilled to see how my efforts have helped Akerfa and been touched to see the kindness and care of the people who are still working to improve the lives of strangers in a poor and distant land.

As I build up the pieces of my new life I expect to spend much of my time in my hometown of San Diego. I have been slowly assembling the pieces of this trip and am working on a book relating my thoughts and experiences.

Although I sometimes feel that I never want to so much as look at another bicycle again, I have been excited by the possibility of going to Zambia at the end of this summer to do another (much smaller) ride. It is something that I hope I can be a part of so that I can continue to help and connect with this organization. I am honored that they have allowed me to serve as an ambassador and be a small part of the work that they are doing. I hope that my work with them is only just beginning

Join me in supporting Akerfa.

You can help by donating One Penny for every mile that I rode on my 15,000 mile journey. Pennies in any amount are warmly accepted.

One Penny per mile (or $150) will help spread the work of a.ker.fa and save lives in Africa through the power of transportation…

Donate online today to the Penny Campaign by following the link below:

Click the Image or Link to view:

DAVE SACHER’S INTERVIEW WITH

NBC SAN DIEGO

Perspective of an Akerfa Intern

By: Kristen Niles

Last semester, Jessica visited the university I am attending, Azusa Pacific, to speak to a group of undergraduate business students. A friend had convinced me to tag along because she needed extra credit for a class assignment.

Once I was there I was completely intrigued. Jessica shared her past experiences and current work with Akerfa. I quickly realized that I too am interested in social enterprise and creating opportunities for others.

Yet, I reasoned with myself, I would never actually be able to do anything like that. I ended up putting Jessica and Akerfa in the back of my mind.

Fast forward to just a few months ago. I am in the midst of a casual conversation with Josh, an Akerfa intern who also attends Azusa Pacific. He soon tells me that Akerfa needs another intern for marketing and finance projects.

I knew right away I wanted to be involved. The following week I attended a presentation he and Jessica were giving. The rest is history.

As an Akerfa intern, I have been able to help with a number of interesting projects: setting up college campus visits, using systems to track what people are saying about us online and helping plan the David Sacher party. I have only been with Akerfa for a few months, but I anxiously anticipate what the next few bring.

If you too are interested in an internship with Akerfa, please contact Adrienne at adrienne@akerfa.org.

WV Zambia receives Zambulance Trailers

Zambulance Trailers making a difference in the hands of World Vision Zambia’s Health Care Workers.

By: Tiki Mambwe, Zambikes Marketing Team Member

I had a successful training in Mumbwa with the World Vision Zambia which was held yesterday at the Eden Motel.

I had 18 trainees whom I attended to, instead of having 20 of them. Most of them were ladies who underwent the training.

Most of the trainees were very happy about the training and mentioned that the Zambulance is going to reduce the death rate of people who are settled in rural areas. They said World Vision Zambia’s initiative to purchase the Zambulances for them and help them with training will really make a change in their lives.

The manager of World Vision Mumbwa also appreciated the introduction of the Zambulance trailers. He said that World Vision is likely to partner with Zambikes in many developing projects and this is just the beginning.

In all, the training succeeded and you can find an attached photo that was taken during the training. The other photo is with the Minister of Science and Technology during the official launch of a school in Mumbwa.