Acirfa July Update
Tangible Growth, You’ll Be Amazed
I arrived in February fully aware that I would experience significant personal growth
during my time in Zambia. What I did not know at the time, though, was that Zambikes would be growing right alongside me.
In February, Zambikes was awaiting a shipment of bicycles to officially begin assembly and sales of the new 2009 model. The workers were near boredom from the lack of work and the Production Facility was virtually empty.
Today, I look around the Production Facility. There is hardly a square inch of open floor space. Every member of the Zambikes team is working hard from morning to evening, knowing their job well and executing it to the best of their ability.
No longer are they struggling to read a measuring tape correctly. Rather, they are designing, building, and troubleshooting new products and accessories.
Zambikes has introduced two new products since February, with one more on the way (see the article below on Mazimba and the bamboo bike progress). Nsabata, the first Zamcart loan recipient, has paid his entire loan back one month early. The marketing team has grown into a confidence that the products really are as good they have been told.
The team is not just making individual sales here and there anymore – they are conducting meetings and getting orders from some of the biggest NGOs in the world, including USAID, CARE, CRS, and many others.
Bikes are reaching the most rural areas thanks to Mwewa and the 3-ton Zambikes delivery truck. In the midst of all this, the Zambikes Community Center is nearing completion… growth that is so tangible that one cannot help but be amazed.
In this issue of the Acirfa Newsletter you’ll read about and see pictures of the growth and development that is happening in Zambia this month. It is my hope that you will be encouraged and that you will grow alongside us in compassion and love for the people of Zambia.
You are a necessary part of the Acirfa mission; we need your support this month more than ever. Please consider supporting us financially or visiting our “get involved” page to find out other creative ways to join Acirfa in “turning Africa around one bike at a time.”
Thank you for growing with us,
Matt Castle
Consultant
info@abikes.org
www.abikes.org
BIKES REACHING THE UNREACHED
By: Mwewa Chikamba, Zambikes Director
It is good to be back home after an extensive, yet rewarding, bicycle distribution trip to Itigi, Tanzania.
Our scheduled 3600km trip included many unexpected challenges: from tire punctures in the middle of rough and dangerous terrain to unscrupulous border clearing procedures that delayed us up to 48 hours.
I am thankful that I ventured on the trip with Farrah Banda, our Zambikes bike mechanic, who did an awesome job to ensure we arrived safely and presented the bicycles and the necessary training.
Itigi is a small town North West of Tanzania with a fairly small population of Swahili speaking people. Just outside of Itigi is the UNREACHED PEOPLES MISSION CENTRE (UPMC), a ministry founded and overseen by Bishop Willam Yindi and his team. The UPMC grounds cover 20 acres of land and house a new church sanctuary, school, mechanic’s garage and rest house, among other existing buildings.
Zambikes had the privilege of partnering with the UPMC through the support of North Coast Church in the United States. With their support, Zambikes was able to supply UPMC with 20 bicycles.
UPMC has trained close to 100 missionaries over a period of 5 years (average of 20 per year). The trained missionaries have then gone out to plant 150 Churches among the unreached people of Tanzania.
While there, Farrah and I were able to distribute the bikes to many of the Pastors in extremely remote areas. Most of the pastors travel miles in order to reach people who have never seen civilization or have been rejected and isolated (among the people they minister to are groups that still walk around naked, and one population of individuals isolated for their short stature as midgets).
Despite the many challenges that arose, the trip was a refreshing reminder that Zambikes is all about changing lives.
ZAMBIKES SPOTLIGHT: FRIDAY MAZIMBA
By: Jeffrey Robertson
At 5′ 0″ and 80lbs, Friday Mazimba does not, at first glance, stand out amongst the Zambikes team members.
It is not until you are around for a few hours that you realize Mazimba is the critical element by which the Zambikes construction team operates smoothly. I have yet to request a task outrageous enough that he could not complete it.
I recently asked Mazimba to trim the branches of a tree that were obstructing the builders from erecting the Community Center walls. The tree was close to 50 feet high and 50 feet in diameter. Less than an hour later, I checked on Mazimba to find him armed with only a machete and the tree at about 15 feet in diameter. I still do not have any idea how he did it.
With his innate understanding of various materials and his ability to take on tasks, he was the natural choice for leading the bamboo pilot projects. Continued progress on the bamboo bike project and bamboo construction rides largely on Mazimba’s shoulders. Throughout the last few months, Mazimba has become involved in constructing bamboo trusses, bamboo roofing and of course, bamboo bikes.
Since working for Zambikes, Mazimba and his family have moved from a single room, collapsing shack, to a home better suited for his newborn daughter, Manasa Ali Mazimba. He is driven by his plans to buy land and build his own home at the end of this year. Through his charge as Zambikes’ “Bamboo Guy,” Mazimba has developed a confidence and passion for his job that is inspiring to his co-workers.
ACIRFA SPOTLIGHT: JEFFREY ROBERTSON
By: Vaughn Spethmann
In January of 2008, Jeff revealed to the Acirfa team and supporters his vision for the development of the Zambikes land.
In only a year and a half, Jeff has trained, mentored, and led the Zambikes construction team in building the three buildings now present on the land.
With Jeff’s diligence and resourcefulness, and ultimately God’s faithfulness, the Bicycle Production Facility was designed and erected in the first six months. Shortly after its completion Jeff and the team ventured across the property to construct a home for Benjamin, the Zambikes caretaker, and his family.
Now, Jeff and the team are 85% done with the Community Center. It is a sight to see. Soon Zambikes will have a place for bike experts, welders, interns, volunteers, supporters and staff to stay – a place that is minutes from the communities where Zambikes has been investing their time. Soon the team will be able to host formal entrepreneurial classes and move the current Bible studies from a 15×10 foot room to a 40×60 foot room.
A huge testament to Jeff’s work is that many of the construction team members have other jobs in line following the completion of the Community Center. Jeff has patiently trained each of them in order to strengthen their individual skill sets.
The workers now have an upstanding reputation in the community and are in high demand by other employers. So much so that some have already accepted their new jobs and moved on. It is a good problem to have – workers that come in the door as beggars and leave equipped to lead more abundant lives.
Because of Jeff’s dedication, selflessness, and spiritual discernment, Zambikes has the infrastructure and capacity to continue to grow and transform additional lives throughout Africa.
ZAMCART: TRANSPORTING OPPORTUNITY
By: Matt Castle
If you are on the Acirfa mailing list you recently read an exciting story about a friend and partner of the Zambikes team named Nsabata (sa-ba-ta).
Nsabata is the first recipient of a Zamcart loan and is making bi-monthly payments to pay off the entire loan in three months.
Today there is some tremendous news to share! In a meeting this morning, Nsabata paid of the remainder of his loan – an entire month shy of his three month payment schedule. Nsabata has done this by successfully expanding his transportation business. Instead of just transporting charcoal, Nsabata invested in a friend’s new fishing business and transports their fish into town as well.
Zambikes provided a loan to a single person, and that single person multiplied the loan’s effectiveness by directly employing and investing in five other people. Each of those five individuals is now able to provide for their family (with the large size of families in Zambia, the effect is spread to nearly 40 people).
Nsabata is now focused on recruiting new people (starting with 2 or 3) to receive loans and serve as the guarantor for the loan. If his recruits default on their loans, he will make the payments in their place. This method is referred to as “social collateral.” If recipients know their friend Nsabata has to pay if they default, they are more likely to make the payment on time and be responsible.
Nsabata began as a sole-proprietor and soon transformed to an employer (he pays his friends to make charcoal and he brings it to town). Now, he has become an investor and loan guarantor.
Zambikes is no longer the only “helper” in the equation. Our prayer is that soon Nsabata’s partners will be investing in others as well. This is a clear example of the power of social business and what Zambikes is all about.
DAVID SACHER DEPARTS PRUDHOE BAY, ALASKA – ON HIS BIKE….
On July 27th, David Sacher embarked on the first leg of his 15,000 mile journey from Alaska to Argentina in support of Acirfa.
Join us in following his trip through frequent updates on his website: www.earningthehorizon.com and on Twitter.
Please keep David in your prayers, specifically for:
- His knee that continues to heal from surgery
- The first 500 mile stretch of his route, known for its isolation and difficulty
- Peace of mind for all of his family and friends
