April 12th, 2008 Comment from Macheru Karuku, Executive Director,SEANET - the NGO in Kenya that will distribute the donated bike, shoes and soccer balls.
After first floating the idea at Palo Alto Kiwanis on
Jan. 10th, we finally completed the first-ever Wheels
of Wonder bicycle drive yesterday, April 5th. Here's
a report. But one disclaimer: I was the organizer so
I’ll try to be measured so as not to invite suspicions
of hyperbole. Others should feel welcome to weigh in
with their perspectives. A shorter summary report
will follow in a day or two.
We had hoped to attract enough bikes to fill a 40’
ocean-going shipping container. We opened at 9:00
a.m. and by 10:30 a.m. a quick inventory made it clear
we would be full. Ultimately, the container held 315
bicycles and we have another 200-odd left over.
Additionally, we loaded 1,000 pairs of good-condition
athletic shoes that had been donated and 27 new soccer
balls. We collected almost $2,300 in contributions
from donors. A better all-spectrum account of success
could hardly be contrived. Make a donation now.
But we still had the problem of incomings. What to
do? We did a quick scramble to decide whether to keep
accepting bikes or not, in the possibility that we
might fill another container. Three issues weighed on
the decision: 1) where and how bikes could be stored;
2) could we even get another container in time; and 3)
how would the cost for another container be met?
The universal consensus was that we should continue
accepting bikes. Arlyn Sharpe of Gunn High School and
I, of Los Altos High School, contacted our principals,
both of whom gave their assent to store additional
bikes for some undetermined short period of time.
First problem solved.
Sara Kenworthy of Pasha Group International, our
shipping partner, was there and called people at home
to determine that we could get a container, should we
need it. Heroic work. Second problem down. The
biggest problem—where the money would come from—still
remained.
The members of both Kiwanis clubs assured me that we
would be able to raise the money. I, too, believe we
will. But now it’s going to come to hard tacks.
Within a few weeks we will need to raise $10,000 for
the second container. Everyone has ideas and
enthusiasm and I’ll be talking to you all on how we
can turn them to money. I am willing to approach
large local companies (Google, HP, Yahoo, etc.) for
help. Even the smallest contributions will be
welcome.
The greatest success was the sense of wonder felt by
everybody at what we were doing. Not a single word of
frustration was spoken (as far as I could tell) during
8 hours on nonstop work. And it was hard work, in the
heat of the day. It was almost miraculous how
everybody stayed on task with a determination to see
the project through to completion. We had the help of
over 15 Kiwanians and 30 students from the two schools
and even a few people who wandered by, asked what we
were doing, and pitched in.
So many people who dropped off bikes commented on what
a great project it was. I think everybody felt
enormous pride in the communities, but more
importantly, the individuals, the organizations, and
the conviction that made this happen. It was like a
faith, a longing that became realized in an almost
magical, Shangrila-like awakening of goodwill that
infected everybody who chanced upon it.
Just one impossibly improbable example: This morning
(Sunday) while Terry and I were offloading the truly
junk bikes at the dump (the ones we didn’t have the
heart to ship) we happened upon Bob Shaw who later
happened upon Bill Fellman who came out and helped us
dispose of them without cost. This was 19 hours after
the end of the event, in another city, and even
30-seconds +/- either way and it wouldn’t have
happened. The event will be remembered by many for a
long, long time.
But as I said, I risk hyperbole.
The next one (SoN of WoW?) needs to come off in just a
few weeks so that we don’t overtax our hospitality at
both schools for the storage of 100 bikes each. It
will be much easier this time, now that we know the
regimen and uncertainty is removed. It will be almost
solely a packing operation. Still, many hands make
short work of big jobs and I hope we might still be
able to count on a small contribution from most.
As soon as
we have reports and pictures from the people in Kenya
I will share them with you. Who knows, perhaps this
is the first of many WoWs. Wow.
Thank you to everybody.
Yours in a Better World,
Robert Freeman
Director, One Dollar For Life http://odfl.org
April 12th, 2008 comment on WoW Report by Macheru Karuku, Executive Director,SEANET - the NGO in Kenya that will distribute the donated bike, shoes and soccer balls.
I was so much overwhelmed by the contents of the report that I almost lost composure! Before that I was always anxious that the WoW might not attract enough enthusiasm in America, a condition that would determine the success of the project in future. I was always afraid of the many disappointed people I would have to face in Kenya, many that are looking forward, to the launching of this innovative and unique project, that can make a lot of difference for many people in the world.
I therefore received a jolt when I found how successful the project had become on your end. So many enthusiastic people coming together, many miles way, and at that time with only one purpose in mind: To help Africa!
I could not help but ask myself, “If the Americans are so much willing to help us, where is the disconnect? Why are we, instead, always eager to self- destruct?” This really gave me a message that I would preach to our people in our peace building efforts in future.
It is also noteworthy, how the problems that arose out of the excess bicycles, were solved. It is easy to conclude that solutions were easily found because all the people were of the same mind: to Help Africa.
Challenges:
I am very much alive to the fact that just as so many people came forward to help, so much did they automatically become stakeholders so that they will in the same fashion await anxiously for results.
I would like to say that they are right in being anxious because they have contributed so much to the project, materially, in time and emotionally.
Please let them know that people here are anxiously waiting for the wheels to arrive. These (people) include Maasai Morans in Laikipia North District, to the north of Nanyuki municipality.
I have also discussed with others like the principal of Ngenia Secondary School(the place where the next classroom project will be built next year) . He has impressed me in his expertise in bicycle matters. This includes racing and repairs. I am therefore learning so much from him.
The way I hear people talk,WoW is likely to be a very important project for this country. In the mean time the shoes and the balls are going to be an icing on the WoW cake. We are still consulting whether they should form an extra and different ODFL/SEANET project. I reckon that we are still short of diverse and completed projects.
I suspect that there are very many Bob Shaw's and Bill Fellman's out there. They are a hidden treasure, awaiting discovery.
If WoW can reach many of those people, harness their humanities and link them to the developing world, I am confident that we shall achieve so much for this world, a better legacy than what will be left by many other world efforts.
Concerning reports and pictures from Kenya, you will start receiving them as soon as the container reaches Mombasa.
I therefore salute you, and all those who took part in the very successful first leg of the WoW project. The challenges on the Kenyan leg are now ours and we are ready for them.
Yours in a Better World
Macheru Karuku
Executive Director, SEANET
Over the one-week duration of the drive, we collected a total of 524 bikes. Of those, 452, or 86 percent, are now on their way to Africa. We fit 315 into the first container which left Oakland this past Sunday bound for Kenya. The other 137 were sent via the Mike’s Bikes drive which had unused space in its container at exactly the time we had extra bikes. If you’re religious, it’s a miracle. If not, it’s a harmonic convergence. The Mike’s container will leave next week for Botswana. In both locations we’re helping set up training programs in bicycle repair, ours at six high schools in the Nanyuki district in Kenya, and Mike’s at small shopkeepers in Botswana.
We gave 26 bikes (all working) to a migrant farm worker’s cooperative in Pescadero and 9 (also working) to the low income student assistance program at San Jose State. The remaining 37 bikes (the true junk, of which, more below) were sent to metal recycling with the help of the city of Palo Alto for which it will receive the proceeds. Not one bike ended up in a landfill, a fact that in itself is something to be proud of for that would surely have been the fate of most of them. The 1,000 pairs of soccer shoes and 27 soccer balls were icing on the cake. There were $2,310 donated by various groups and individuals to help with the $9,600 shipping costs. ODFL is covering the balance.
The community turnout was spectacular. I can’t say enough about Kiwanis. If they don’t exemplify the true spirit of community involvement, then it doesn’t exist. More than 20 volunteers helped out before, during and after collection and both Palo Alto and Los Altos clubs contributed funds to help defray the expenses. Some 30 Gunn and Los Altos High School students turned out to break down and help load the bikes. That’s in addition to the more than 50 students who distributed 2,700 flyers in the two communities and placed some 200 posters in businesses around both towns. The Los Altos Town Crier and Palo Alto Weekly each ran good stories about the drive, reflecting, I think, their rightful pride in what their communities had done. Here’s the Weekly story (scroll down to page 3):
As with every first-time undertaking, there are things we’ve learned that will make Wheels even better next time. The top 3 of these are: 1) Screen bikes at reception to weed out true junk; 2) Declare from the beginning that it’s “first come, first served” and then shut off incomings when the container is full. This will avoid the problem of too many bikes—a better problem than too few, but a problem, nonetheless; and 3) Request a small donation with every bike to help cover shipping costs and contribute to provisioning of spares, tools, etc. But those are small course corrections on what was an otherwise magnificent journey.
Kudos and great thanks to Randall Hull of Los Altos Kiwanis, Jim Phillips of Palo Alto Kiwanis, Daryce Peterson, also of Palo Alto Kiwanis, Arlyn Sharpe of Gunn High School, Chris Phipps and Judy Strauss of Los Altos High School, and Lauren Crum, our incomparable student organizer at Los Altos High School. Thank you to Youth Community Services of Palo Alto, and The OffRamp, our two other co-sponsors. Also, I thank Noreen Likins, principal of Gunn High School, and Wynne Satterwhite, principal of Los Altos High School. Without each of their support, this could never have happened.
One last thing. I hope you will read the message above from Macheru Karuku, Executive Director of SEANet, our NGO partner in Kenya who still has much work ahead of him before the project is truly completed. He wrote his message in response to my first “How was WoW?” message, sent the day after collection. No words I could ever muster can give you the true feel for how great an impact your efforts have made. His will.
Thank you again to everybody. I hope you had as much fun as I did.
Yours in a Better World,
Robert Freeman
Director, One Dollar For Life http://odfl.org
“Even the greatest waterfall begins with a single drop of water.”
~African Bantu saying.
One Dollar For Life - Wheels of Wonder: Used Bike Collection
Goal: Collect used bikes in the US to distribute to people in Africa.
April 6th, 2008 Report:
After first floating the idea at Palo Alto Kiwanis on Jan. 10th, we finally completed the first-ever Wheels of Wonder bicycle drive yesterday, April 5th. Here's a report. But one disclaimer: I was the organizer so I’ll try to be measured so as not to invite suspicions of hyperbole. Others should feel welcome to weigh in with their perspectives. A shorter summary report will follow in a day or two.
We had hoped to attract enough bikes to fill a 40’ ocean-going shipping container. We opened at 9:00 a.m. and by 10:30 a.m. a quick inventory made it clear we would be full. Ultimately, the container held 315 bicycles and we have another 200-odd left over. Additionally, we loaded 1,000 pairs of good-condition athletic shoes that had been donated and 27 new soccer balls. We collected almost $2,300 in contributions from donors. A better all-spectrum account of success could hardly be contrived. Make a donation now.
But we still had the problem of incomings. What to do? We did a quick scramble to decide whether to keep accepting bikes or not, in the possibility that we might fill another container. Three issues weighed on the decision: 1) where and how bikes could be stored; 2) could we even get another container in time; and 3) how would the cost for another container be met?
The universal consensus was that we should continue accepting bikes. Arlyn Sharpe of Gunn High School and I, of Los Altos High School, contacted our principals, both of whom gave their assent to store additional bikes for some undetermined short period of time. First problem solved.
Sara Kenworthy of Pasha Group International, our shipping partner, was there and called people at home to determine that we could get a container, should we need it. Heroic work. Second problem down. The biggest problem—where the money would come from—still remained.
The members of both Kiwanis clubs assured me that we would be able to raise the money. I, too, believe we will. But now it’s going to come to hard tacks. Within a few weeks we will need to raise $10,000 for the second container. Everyone has ideas and enthusiasm and I’ll be talking to you all on how we can turn them to money. I am willing to approach large local companies (Google, HP, Yahoo, etc.) for help. Even the smallest contributions will be welcome.
The greatest success was the sense of wonder felt by everybody at what we were doing. Not a single word of frustration was spoken (as far as I could tell) during 8 hours on nonstop work. And it was hard work, in the heat of the day. It was almost miraculous how everybody stayed on task with a determination to see the project through to completion. We had the help of over 15 Kiwanians and 30 students from the two schools and even a few people who wandered by, asked what we were doing, and pitched in. So many people who dropped off bikes commented on what a great project it was. I think everybody felt enormous pride in the communities, but more importantly, the individuals, the organizations, and the conviction that made this happen. It was like a faith, a longing that became realized in an almost magical, Shangrila-like awakening of goodwill that infected everybody who chanced upon it.
Just one impossibly improbable example: This morning (Sunday) while Terry and I were offloading the truly junk bikes at the dump (the ones we didn’t have the heart to ship) we happened upon Bob Shaw who later happened upon Bill Fellman who came out and helped us dispose of them without cost. This was 19 hours after the end of the event, in another city, and even 30-seconds +/- either way and it wouldn’t have happened. The event will be remembered by many for a long, long time.
But as I said, I risk hyperbole.
The next one (SoN of WoW?) needs to come off in just a few weeks so that we don’t overtax our hospitality at both schools for the storage of 100 bikes each. It will be much easier this time, now that we know the regimen and uncertainty is removed. It will be almost solely a packing operation. Still, many hands make short work of big jobs and I hope we might still be able to count on a small contribution from most.
As soon as we have reports and pictures from the people in Kenya I will share them with you. Who knows, perhaps this is the first of many WoWs. Wow.
Thank you to everybody.
Yours in a Better World,
Robert Freeman
Director, One Dollar For Life
http://odfl.org
Back to top
===================================================
April 12th, 2008 comment on WoW Report by Macheru Karuku, Executive Director,SEANET - the NGO in Kenya that will distribute the donated bike, shoes and soccer balls.
I was so much overwhelmed by the contents of the report that I almost lost composure! Before that I was always anxious that the WoW might not attract enough enthusiasm in America, a condition that would determine the success of the project in future. I was always afraid of the many disappointed people I would have to face in Kenya, many that are looking forward, to the launching of this innovative and unique project, that can make a lot of difference for many people in the world.
I therefore received a jolt when I found how successful the project had become on your end. So many enthusiastic people coming together, many miles way, and at that time with only one purpose in mind: To help Africa!
I could not help but ask myself, “If the Americans are so much willing to help us, where is the disconnect? Why are we, instead, always eager to self- destruct?” This really gave me a message that I would preach to our people in our peace building efforts in future.
It is also noteworthy, how the problems that arose out of the excess bicycles, were solved. It is easy to conclude that solutions were easily found because all the people were of the same mind: to Help Africa.
Challenges:
I am very much alive to the fact that just as so many people came forward to help, so much did they automatically become stakeholders so that they will in the same fashion await anxiously for results.
I would like to say that they are right in being anxious because they have contributed so much to the project, materially, in time and emotionally.
Please let them know that people here are anxiously waiting for the wheels to arrive. These (people) include Maasai Morans in Laikipia North District, to the north of Nanyuki municipality. I have also discussed with others like the principal of Ngenia Secondary School(the place where the next classroom project will be built next year) . He has impressed me in his expertise in bicycle matters. This includes racing and repairs. I am therefore learning so much from him.
The way I hear people talk,WoW is likely to be a very important project for this country. In the mean time the shoes and the balls are going to be an icing on the WoW cake. We are still consulting whether they should form an extra and different ODFL/SEANET project. I reckon that we are still short of diverse and completed projects.
I suspect that there are very many Bob Shaw's and Bill Fellman's out there. They are a hidden treasure, awaiting discovery. If WoW can reach many of those people, harness their humanities and link them to the developing world, I am confident that we shall achieve so much for this world, a better legacy than what will be left by many other world efforts.
Concerning reports and pictures from Kenya, you will start receiving them as soon as the container reaches Mombasa. I therefore salute you, and all those who took part in the very successful first leg of the WoW project. The challenges on the Kenyan leg are now ours and we are ready for them.
Yours in a Better World
Macheru Karuku
Executive Director, SEANET
Back to top
=============================================
April 20th, 2008 Report:
Over the one-week duration of the drive, we collected a total of 524 bikes. Of those, 452, or 86 percent, are now on their way to Africa. We fit 315 into the first container which left Oakland this past Sunday bound for Kenya. The other 137 were sent via the Mike’s Bikes drive which had unused space in its container at exactly the time we had extra bikes. If you’re religious, it’s a miracle. If not, it’s a harmonic convergence. The Mike’s container will leave next week for Botswana. In both locations we’re helping set up training programs in bicycle repair, ours at six high schools in the Nanyuki district in Kenya, and Mike’s at small shopkeepers in Botswana.
We gave 26 bikes (all working) to a migrant farm worker’s cooperative in Pescadero and 9 (also working) to the low income student assistance program at San Jose State. The remaining 37 bikes (the true junk, of which, more below) were sent to metal recycling with the help of the city of Palo Alto for which it will receive the proceeds. Not one bike ended up in a landfill, a fact that in itself is something to be proud of for that would surely have been the fate of most of them. The 1,000 pairs of soccer shoes and 27 soccer balls were icing on the cake. There were $2,310 donated by various groups and individuals to help with the $9,600 shipping costs. ODFL is covering the balance.
The community turnout was spectacular. I can’t say enough about Kiwanis. If they don’t exemplify the true spirit of community involvement, then it doesn’t exist. More than 20 volunteers helped out before, during and after collection and both Palo Alto and Los Altos clubs contributed funds to help defray the expenses. Some 30 Gunn and Los Altos High School students turned out to break down and help load the bikes. That’s in addition to the more than 50 students who distributed 2,700 flyers in the two communities and placed some 200 posters in businesses around both towns. The Los Altos Town Crier and Palo Alto Weekly each ran good stories about the drive, reflecting, I think, their rightful pride in what their communities had done. Here’s the Weekly story (scroll down to page 3):
http://www.paloaltoonline.com/weekly/morguepdf/2008/2008_04_11.paw.section1.pdf
As with every first-time undertaking, there are things we’ve learned that will make Wheels even better next time. The top 3 of these are: 1) Screen bikes at reception to weed out true junk; 2) Declare from the beginning that it’s “first come, first served” and then shut off incomings when the container is full. This will avoid the problem of too many bikes—a better problem than too few, but a problem, nonetheless; and 3) Request a small donation with every bike to help cover shipping costs and contribute to provisioning of spares, tools, etc. But those are small course corrections on what was an otherwise magnificent journey.
Kudos and great thanks to Randall Hull of Los Altos Kiwanis, Jim Phillips of Palo Alto Kiwanis, Daryce Peterson, also of Palo Alto Kiwanis, Arlyn Sharpe of Gunn High School, Chris Phipps and Judy Strauss of Los Altos High School, and Lauren Crum, our incomparable student organizer at Los Altos High School. Thank you to Youth Community Services of Palo Alto, and The OffRamp, our two other co-sponsors. Also, I thank Noreen Likins, principal of Gunn High School, and Wynne Satterwhite, principal of Los Altos High School. Without each of their support, this could never have happened.
One last thing. I hope you will read the message above from Macheru Karuku, Executive Director of SEANet, our NGO partner in Kenya who still has much work ahead of him before the project is truly completed. He wrote his message in response to my first “How was WoW?” message, sent the day after collection. No words I could ever muster can give you the true feel for how great an impact your efforts have made. His will.
Thank you again to everybody. I hope you had as much fun as I did.
Yours in a Better World,
Robert Freeman
Director, One Dollar For Life
http://odfl.org
“Even the greatest waterfall begins with a single drop of water.”
~African Bantu saying.
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