Acirfa

A message from Dustin, a Zambikes bicycle distribution and updates on the team!

Dear Supporter,

“Clap, clap…bump, bump…clap, clap…bump, bump” are the sounds heard as we rhythmically complete our football (soccer) warm ups on the dirt field.

An African beat can be heard in the distance as the sky fills with blues, oranges, and reds over the grass huts and kids  in the background.

The scene overwhelms me as I am reminded of why I came to Zambia. I look over at my friend Liz and she says, “Dustin, thanks. I feel like this is my first day in Africa and I’ve been living in Lusaka since January.”

I now write this letter from a plane overlooking the flat plains of the mid-west. I am headed to my cousin’s wedding and a family reunion in Kansas.

Each time I return, I am struck with the notion that home is relative.  I feel at home in Zambia.  Simultaneously, I am at home with my family in the states.

I think about Jameson and his family in Zambia; Tiki, his brothers and their families; Justin and his 4 kids; Chrispan and his wife and newborn baby; Mwewa and his wife and two kids; Felix and his family; the Funjika’s and the Mutala’s.

Some are struggling to put food on the table. Some are struggling with sickness, and others are figuring out what is next for them in their developing lives.

I sit with them and I laugh with them. I share nshima with them and play football with them. Through it all, I remember what Zambikes is about.  In fact, I remember what Zambia is about: Relationships.

I’m American. I want to be efficient, smart, independent, and to “succeed” in life.  My Zambian friends will say what is most important, far surpassing whether or not I ’succeed,’ are the relationships I have with others.

Relationships are tough – harder than selling bikes and much harder than training mechanics.  Relationships take time and sacrifice.  My charge to you as you read our Acirfa update is this: think about relationships this month. Are you willing to sacrifice for them?

Stories and amazing updates fill the newsletter each month. As Zambikes and Acirfa finish up the second quarter, we reflect back on the unbelievable first half of the year each has had. There are now close to 150 trailers on the move in Zambia and over 1,500 bikes on the road since 2007. There are 40+ employees working for Zambikes and the most recent addition to the land, the Community Center, is nearing completion.

New projects, like the bamboo bike frames, are being developed (I even have a bamboo frame with me on the plane right now!). Over all, hundreds and thousands of lives have been transformed out of the vision God put forth 5 years ago in 2004 during our first trip to Zambia.

If you have shown your support of Acirfa financially in the past, we are deeply appreciative. If you have not, now would be an amazing time to express your support through financial gifts.  We are up against a mid-year wall and we need to raise another $60,000 by the end of September.

I understand everyone globally is feeling financial pressures and that this charge comes at a difficult time. But, we believe the people and work in Zambia are well worth the time and money.

If you are not able to support us financially, check out other ways you can help via cycling, bike for bikes, and awareness campaigns.  To learn more about what YOU can do, please visit the “Get Involved” page of the Acirfa website.

With thankfulness and appreciation,

Dustin McBride

Co-Founder
info@abikes.org
www.abikes.org
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P.S.  If you would like to experience Zambia first hand and meet the people you hear so much about, please contact Adrienne about traveling to visit us! (A great time may be in 2010 so you can catch some of the World Cup in South Africa as well!)

BIKE’S INFLUENCE REACHING FARTHER…

By Vaughn Spethmann

Not only transforming the lives of people, but those of animals as well….

Zambikes recently distributed 80 bikes to the African Outback site in Mpika, Zambia. The African Outback trains their employees and partners to catch poachers and ensure that the wildlife of Zambia can be enjoyed by many generations to come.

In order to fit 80 bikes on the Zambikes delivery truck the Zambikes welders fabricated a new rack to attach to the truck. The new rack enabled the team to transport the additional 30 bikes on the 2,000 km journey.

It is amazing to recall that in February the Zambikes welders could not use a measuring tape. Now, they are successfully designing and building bicycle carrying racks for a 4 ton delivery truck.

The African Outback team was excited to get their Zambikes to their employees and partners. With the bikes, they will be able to cover four times the distance they had covered previously. Ultimately, it will support them in their efforts to preserve one of their most precious resources.

ZAMBIKES SPOTLIGHT:  Viera Funjika

Viera Funjika has been involved with Zambikes since its inception in 2007. Viera’s family welcomed Vaughn and Dustin into their home to stay at a time when they did not know anyone else.

Shortly after, Viera began organizing the Zambikes office and managing the accounting.

Since then, she has developed into a spiritual leader and manager. Her contribution in the development of the Zambikes microfinance partnerships and accounting system has ensured that organizational infrastructure has kept up with the continual growth.

This year, Acirfa and Zambikes have partnered to sponsor Viera’s Masters in Business Administration education. She recently completed her first semester and is about to embark on her second. Below is a recent update from Viera on the classes she has completed and is currently taking.

“Last semester, I took:

1. International Business – This was an eye opener as to how global companies operate. Our curriculum dealt with a number of subjects, including money market issues, foreign investment such as is Zambikes and international trade policies. I have come to understand how various financial institutions operate and how businesses relate to each other in this global market and what policies govern them.

2. International Market – We looked at how to market products internationally using various search methodologies and how to interpret data collected. I used Zambikes as my case study for the final assignment. I focused on the possibility of exporting Zambikes products to Malawi and came up with useful information to utilize at the appropriate time.

3. Corporate Strategy – This class was my favorite! Strategizing and planning for businesses can seem tedious or useless, but it matters. For Zambikes, I concluded that we can improve our strategy by becoming more proactive than reactive.

This semester, I am enrolled in Business Economics, Accounting for Management Decision Making and Managing People for Performance. I am looking forward to the challenge of each class.

Having completed one semester, and about to start the second, I am beginning to realize that my strength is in office management. I have been able to detect a few loopholes within Zambikes and have helped work to eliminate them.

On another note, the class presentations were crazy! I am the youngest in a class of veterans…..Imagine ME standing in front of (quite elderly) classmates and strutting my stuff!”

ACIRFA SPOTLIGHT: Matt Castle

By: Vaughn Spethmann

Matt Castle joined the Zambikes team in February of this year. Prior to his time in Zambia, Matt worked with organizations that develop and support social businesses – both in their start up and in serving their communities.

Matt’s objective in Zambia has been to understand Zambikes in its entirety and to synthesize the information into an operations manual.

The completed manual will enable countless groups to replicate the Zambikes model in other countries in Africa. Since February, there have been many requests for such a manual from groups in Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda and even Latin America.

Far beyond writing the manual, Matt has been a deep source of encouragement to the entire team in Zambia. He has the ability to provide encouragement in direct and oftentimes, indirect and unexpected ways. It is an understatement to say that the Zambikes team is grateful for Matt’s input and involvement in the start up of the trailer projects, bamboo bikes and expanding bicycle distributions.

Without your support, the continued growth of Zambikes would not be possible. The team is indebted to you for providing the opportunity for Matt to help pave the way for further growth.

FOLLOW ACIRFA & ZAMBIKES ON TWITTER!

CHANGING LIVES BY RIDING:

David Sacher will depart on July 15th to embark on a solo bicycle journey from Alaska to Argentina.

He seeks to raise funds for Acirfa through his ride. Follow the links below for articles and stories published on his upcoming journey.

Fox 11 News Interview: “Cal Poly Student Prepares for 15,000 Mile Bike Ride”

The Tribune: “Poly Grad’s Big Adventure”

Thank you for reading, and for your continued role in turning Africa around, one bike at a time.

Until next time,

Dustin, Vaughn, Daryl, Jeff, Matt and Adrienne

The Acirfa Team

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