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The BAP Team
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Monday, March 29, 2010
Racing to Uganda!
We have been holding an event on campus to have some fun, get in shape, and raise awareness. Starting March 22 and ending April 24. The event, called Racing to Uganda. The distance from Bucknell, in Lewisburg, PA to Uganda is around 7000 miles, and as a group, we hope that in the gym and around campus we can exercise our way to Uganda. Participants will log their trips to the gym, recording the number of miles they run, walk, or swim. The person who logs the the most times and the person that logs the longest distance will win prizes! People pay a five dollar registration fee and they receive a Bicycles Against Poverty wristband. On Saturday April 24, as finale to the Racing to Uganda, we will be holding a BAP Bike-A-Thon where teams of 4 to 5 people will sign up to be the last team standing. The longer they bike, the harder it will be!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
The start of the spring semester at Bucknell
Since coming back to school at the end of January, BAPers have been hard at work to make the semester great. Both the executive committee and the entire club has been meeting so far this semester. To start off the semester, the first weekend back, after our winter break, the executive committee met to hear and update of Muyambi's trips to Haiti and Uganda and begin work on the upcoming semester. The executive committee changed this semester after two of its leaders went abroad, Kevin and Nicole. Sarah will now serve as secretary, Erika and Emma will work together as Vice Presidents of Operations, Molly will continue as Vice President of Development, Kylie will continue to hold her position as Vice President of Communication, Muyambi will continue as President, and Dave will head up design for BAP. Looking long term, our next BAP project will be heading to Haiti. With the help of students from Brown University, we will be working on distributing bicycle carts. Muyambi also went to Uganda, distributing more bicycles, and this summer, students will be going back to expand further. The executive committee has been working on organizing behind the scenes, especially working within the guidelines of Bucknell to make sure that we do everything properly. They have been working on rewriting the constitution for ROTU and is seeking individuals to serve on the ROTU board of directors, moving forward with achieving 501 C 3 nonprofit status. Members of the executive committee have also been actively working on improving both the BAP website and are constructing the ROTU website. Executives will be heading to conferences this semester, including the Impact conference in Arkansas in March and the CGI conference in April.
The BAPers have also been holding larger group meetings to come up with events and plan out the rest of the semester. We held a retreat to hatch out many details and held a general interest meeting open to the public this week with great turnout. This semester, the development committee will be working on finding grants, continuing the constitution, and seeking a board of directors. The communications committee will be working on advertising our events, increasing awareness and publicity, and presenting to both churches and the Greek organizations on campus. They will also be working on the BAP newsletter. Operations will be mainly seeking to plan events on campus. BAP is currently selling Ugandan crafts in the Elaine Langone Center, including beautiful jewelry, bags, and t-shirts. BAP will also be planning a month-long event called Biking to Uganda. Students will donate money to participate, and after each workout, students will log the number of miles they biked or ran during their workout. We will track the groups progress on a map, hopefully biking the distance from Lewisburg to Gulu. The person who logged the most hours will win a prize at the end of the month. The event will culminate with a bike-a-thon, where teams will compete to be the last team standing as they continuously bike. As time progresses, the intensity will increase, making it harder to continue. We are also planning another event in the spring like last years Bands and Bikes. This year we will be co-hosting the event with the club, Micro-finance Initiative at Bucknell, or MIB. This year, the musical festival will be held in Smith quad on campus.
All in all, it looks to be a very exciting semester for Bicycles Against Poverty here at Bucknell.
The BAPers have also been holding larger group meetings to come up with events and plan out the rest of the semester. We held a retreat to hatch out many details and held a general interest meeting open to the public this week with great turnout. This semester, the development committee will be working on finding grants, continuing the constitution, and seeking a board of directors. The communications committee will be working on advertising our events, increasing awareness and publicity, and presenting to both churches and the Greek organizations on campus. They will also be working on the BAP newsletter. Operations will be mainly seeking to plan events on campus. BAP is currently selling Ugandan crafts in the Elaine Langone Center, including beautiful jewelry, bags, and t-shirts. BAP will also be planning a month-long event called Biking to Uganda. Students will donate money to participate, and after each workout, students will log the number of miles they biked or ran during their workout. We will track the groups progress on a map, hopefully biking the distance from Lewisburg to Gulu. The person who logged the most hours will win a prize at the end of the month. The event will culminate with a bike-a-thon, where teams will compete to be the last team standing as they continuously bike. As time progresses, the intensity will increase, making it harder to continue. We are also planning another event in the spring like last years Bands and Bikes. This year we will be co-hosting the event with the club, Micro-finance Initiative at Bucknell, or MIB. This year, the musical festival will be held in Smith quad on campus.
All in all, it looks to be a very exciting semester for Bicycles Against Poverty here at Bucknell.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
How It All Happened
Now that i am done with our BAP project implementation in the 3rd village of Kinene, i can take a moment to share with you how it all got done. I must say - i had underestimated the amount of work needed to make the implementation possible. Perhaps its because the last two villages we did, i had a team of about 14 people who clearly understood what we had to do. This time, there was only me for the most part to count on as well as our field officer.
Our first day of filling in applications began just like any other. Me rushing down the internet cafe to get all the paper work printed out ( i have understood why i do things last minute most of the times). Before heading to the printing place, i had already designated someone to deal with the food and i was constantly callig Alex, the field officer to also get some stuff ready before leaving.
African time became handy as we left at 10am although i had previously vowed to all the translators that we will leave by 8am and hence making them show up at about 740am. Anyways, we finally left for Kinene and given our driver was a young man, he didnt really care for the car that much. This showed in the way we flew over the pot holes that covered more than 95% of the road. In less than an two hours - can you imagine, we were greeting the local officials getting ready to give the opening speech to the community members that were eagerly waiting for us. Giving a bicycle at half the market price is a worth while deal to all - its almost like selling a Prado at half the price (trying to put this in terms that everyone can relate to).
My friend Kironde was assigned the cameraman duty and my brother Ivan was constantly moving to and fro to make sure all the translators were well fed. I on the other hand took the role of Sophia (photographing all the applicants with their applications). With the scotching sun mercilessly shooting rays at me, i humbly sat in a plastic chair contemplating why there is such inequality in this world we live in. Nen camera (look at the camera) and chet bot LC(go to the LC) are among the luo phrases i picked in my line of duty.
After 4-5 hours of interviewing 100 applicants, we were done for the day and i awaited the taxi ride to our beloved sunset hotel because that it sort of became my principle that i only eat when we were traveling back.
On arriving our sunset hotel, everyone departed to their respective homes while me and the rest of the boys headed for another duty - transcribing all the applicants information in the excel spread sheet.
The second day of applications ran pretty much like the first one and all that was left was to do the selection - paint the bicycle -pack them on the lorry - get all the beneficiaries to sign their forms and be done. I wish it all went as smoothly as imagined.
stay tuned for the details.
Muyambi
Our first day of filling in applications began just like any other. Me rushing down the internet cafe to get all the paper work printed out ( i have understood why i do things last minute most of the times). Before heading to the printing place, i had already designated someone to deal with the food and i was constantly callig Alex, the field officer to also get some stuff ready before leaving.
African time became handy as we left at 10am although i had previously vowed to all the translators that we will leave by 8am and hence making them show up at about 740am. Anyways, we finally left for Kinene and given our driver was a young man, he didnt really care for the car that much. This showed in the way we flew over the pot holes that covered more than 95% of the road. In less than an two hours - can you imagine, we were greeting the local officials getting ready to give the opening speech to the community members that were eagerly waiting for us. Giving a bicycle at half the market price is a worth while deal to all - its almost like selling a Prado at half the price (trying to put this in terms that everyone can relate to).
My friend Kironde was assigned the cameraman duty and my brother Ivan was constantly moving to and fro to make sure all the translators were well fed. I on the other hand took the role of Sophia (photographing all the applicants with their applications). With the scotching sun mercilessly shooting rays at me, i humbly sat in a plastic chair contemplating why there is such inequality in this world we live in. Nen camera (look at the camera) and chet bot LC(go to the LC) are among the luo phrases i picked in my line of duty.
After 4-5 hours of interviewing 100 applicants, we were done for the day and i awaited the taxi ride to our beloved sunset hotel because that it sort of became my principle that i only eat when we were traveling back.
On arriving our sunset hotel, everyone departed to their respective homes while me and the rest of the boys headed for another duty - transcribing all the applicants information in the excel spread sheet.
The second day of applications ran pretty much like the first one and all that was left was to do the selection - paint the bicycle -pack them on the lorry - get all the beneficiaries to sign their forms and be done. I wish it all went as smoothly as imagined.
stay tuned for the details.
Muyambi
Friday, January 8, 2010
Extending BAP Coverage
After careful consideration during one of our meetings about our BAP future plans, it was decided that this winter BAP should extend its services to another IDP camp/village of Kinene in Amuru district(originally part of Gulu). The two IDPs of Kona Nwoya and Lulyango that we initially implement our project are in the same sub-county as Kinene. In fact the local councils of Lulyango and Kona Nwoya are for the most part the same as those for Kinene. Kinene is located on the way to Lulyango and while implementing our pilot project, the people of kinene were not pleased when the say bicycles on a track being carried to Lulyango because they also disparately need them. Little did they know that their day would come so soon as five months later.
During my first day in Gulu, i met up with our project manager, Alex.We talked for hours about what has been going on with the program and also got a chance to take a look at the receipt book for the payments which apart from a few issues looked very good. The next day (Wednesday), we traveled to the two villages to solve some issues that Alex had raised.
Among the issues Alex was facing is one of our beneficiaries who claims that he lost his bicycle. On the contrary, there are several witnesses that say this is a lie saying that he sold it. Fortunate for us, our terms of agreement that this young man signed, carefully details what the consequences of selling the bicycle are. While i met with this young man, he mentioned that he will be able to pay back the full cost of the bicycle (after realizing that his lies were failing him) in installments of 50,000 shillings after which we will evaluate if he is worthy to be trusted again.
Another case is rather complicated. One gentleman who was supposed to pick up a bicycle for a relative on the distribution day is said to have picked up more than one bicycle using a false name. Again there are a number of witnesses in the community that claim that he had this bicycle. Some how he was able to take advantage of the rainy day chaos during the distribution and take two bicycles. This case is yet to be resolved this Sunday when we get to meet with all the BAP beneficiaries and identify what really happened.
It is great that the community understands that the success of our program depends on them. When a beneficiary does something wrong, community members are willing to say the truth because they want our program to continue so that they can benefit from it. Nonetheless, BAP learns from every issue that arises at any one point.
During our distribution in Kinene, all instances that can result in such issues will be avoided.
Other than the above two issues, the program is running very well. The payments are exceptionally going well and we hope it continues that way.
keep posted, more to come about the interviews we have done in Kinene.
Muyambi
During my first day in Gulu, i met up with our project manager, Alex.We talked for hours about what has been going on with the program and also got a chance to take a look at the receipt book for the payments which apart from a few issues looked very good. The next day (Wednesday), we traveled to the two villages to solve some issues that Alex had raised.
Among the issues Alex was facing is one of our beneficiaries who claims that he lost his bicycle. On the contrary, there are several witnesses that say this is a lie saying that he sold it. Fortunate for us, our terms of agreement that this young man signed, carefully details what the consequences of selling the bicycle are. While i met with this young man, he mentioned that he will be able to pay back the full cost of the bicycle (after realizing that his lies were failing him) in installments of 50,000 shillings after which we will evaluate if he is worthy to be trusted again.
Another case is rather complicated. One gentleman who was supposed to pick up a bicycle for a relative on the distribution day is said to have picked up more than one bicycle using a false name. Again there are a number of witnesses in the community that claim that he had this bicycle. Some how he was able to take advantage of the rainy day chaos during the distribution and take two bicycles. This case is yet to be resolved this Sunday when we get to meet with all the BAP beneficiaries and identify what really happened.
It is great that the community understands that the success of our program depends on them. When a beneficiary does something wrong, community members are willing to say the truth because they want our program to continue so that they can benefit from it. Nonetheless, BAP learns from every issue that arises at any one point.
During our distribution in Kinene, all instances that can result in such issues will be avoided.
Other than the above two issues, the program is running very well. The payments are exceptionally going well and we hope it continues that way.
keep posted, more to come about the interviews we have done in Kinene.
Muyambi
Thursday, January 7, 2010
HAITI TO UGANDA
Its always interesting to take a pause and see how fast time goes when you are busy. Seems like i have been busy for the past few years that i have forgotten to notice how old i am getting. Anyways, i guess i never finished writing about my Haiti experience and here i go.
The last few days in Haiti were very busy as i tried to make sure that i had everything covered. Generally the deal is that we have to come up with an attractive design to attract the users of the current back-breaking cart. I traveled to Leogane on the second last day in Haiti and met with the directors of the NEGES foundation one of whom had just flown in from USA a few minutes before. They gave wonderful and constructive critism and advise on what i presented to them and they were willing to actually help in every way they can to make it come true.
Fortunately they pointed us to a member of their organisation, a trustworthy genetleman that agreed to acting as our field manager. The tasks ahead include developing a survey that our field manager can use to find out what obstacles are currently faced in the current mode of transportation. This small survey should also be useful in finding out what the size of our new innovative transportation cart should be. I am hoping both students at Bucknell and Brown would be helpful in making these designs possible.
On my last day, i hurried to the city very early in the morning to look for some gifts for my host family. They had been incredible at taking care of me given the few pounds i gained on the trip. As i jumped on the tap tap (taxi) that evening, i realized that my work in Haiti had just began and wished that it would continue until i get to see even the slightest change in the transportation system in the country. The chaos in the city center reminded me of Uganda and after successful securing all the gifts i found appropriate, i headed back to pack and get ready to fly to the USA where i would stay one day and the fly to Uganda.
In 4 hours i landed at JFK where Kevin saved me from the cold outside the airport. I constantly pondered whether it was really gobal warming that caused the great temperature difference between Haiti and USA or just one of those things well crafted by our creator.
After getting a days trip in NYC by Nicole and Kevin (who tried really hard to impress me with NY pizza), i found myself sitted on Emirates airline (enjoying ICE AGE) headed for Uganda. After a few days in the capital visiting family, i now sit in an internet cafe in Gulu where our BAP pilot project was implemented only a few months ago.
keep posted, more about the trip in the next post.
Muyambi
The last few days in Haiti were very busy as i tried to make sure that i had everything covered. Generally the deal is that we have to come up with an attractive design to attract the users of the current back-breaking cart. I traveled to Leogane on the second last day in Haiti and met with the directors of the NEGES foundation one of whom had just flown in from USA a few minutes before. They gave wonderful and constructive critism and advise on what i presented to them and they were willing to actually help in every way they can to make it come true.
Fortunately they pointed us to a member of their organisation, a trustworthy genetleman that agreed to acting as our field manager. The tasks ahead include developing a survey that our field manager can use to find out what obstacles are currently faced in the current mode of transportation. This small survey should also be useful in finding out what the size of our new innovative transportation cart should be. I am hoping both students at Bucknell and Brown would be helpful in making these designs possible.
On my last day, i hurried to the city very early in the morning to look for some gifts for my host family. They had been incredible at taking care of me given the few pounds i gained on the trip. As i jumped on the tap tap (taxi) that evening, i realized that my work in Haiti had just began and wished that it would continue until i get to see even the slightest change in the transportation system in the country. The chaos in the city center reminded me of Uganda and after successful securing all the gifts i found appropriate, i headed back to pack and get ready to fly to the USA where i would stay one day and the fly to Uganda.
In 4 hours i landed at JFK where Kevin saved me from the cold outside the airport. I constantly pondered whether it was really gobal warming that caused the great temperature difference between Haiti and USA or just one of those things well crafted by our creator.
After getting a days trip in NYC by Nicole and Kevin (who tried really hard to impress me with NY pizza), i found myself sitted on Emirates airline (enjoying ICE AGE) headed for Uganda. After a few days in the capital visiting family, i now sit in an internet cafe in Gulu where our BAP pilot project was implemented only a few months ago.
keep posted, more about the trip in the next post.
Muyambi
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Haiti 20th-23rd
At the moment i am sitted in the offices of an organization called Food for the Poor - an organization well know in Haiti for its work.
I am currently in this wonderful country checking on what you might refer to as project feasibility. Haiti is considered to be the poorest country in the southern hemisphere and many struggle to earn a living through means that are not necessarily friendly to their bodies. One of such ways is how people use wooden carts with car tyres to get commodities around the city. You would be amazed at how much people can carry on such a cart. Bicycles Against Poverty project is haiti is to devise means or perhaps try to adopt a bicycle cart that would be as useful as the current cart being used.
With this project comes many challenges but hopefully we will successed in the midst of everything. Not so long ago, i ran into a man who was carrying the top part of the car on his cart. Which was basically a the whole frame of the car and obviosly without the engine, tyres and a few other things. One thing that they dont know is home much this weight affects their backs and life span in turn. Most of them are obviously concerned about earning the daily bread rather than looking in the future which is perfectly reasonable if you live in conditions as harsh as they do.
Anyway, we are hoping we will be able to develop a cart they they can adopt - one that is not back breaking but good enough to carry a good amount of weight besides, the more they carry the more they earn.
We might have to have some educational seminars on the issue because it will be impossible to change the way things are done unless people understand the consequences of how things are being done currently.
So, this is what we are up against - changing a tradition through which people make money - but hopefully giving them a better alternative
keep posted for developments
Muyambi
I am currently in this wonderful country checking on what you might refer to as project feasibility. Haiti is considered to be the poorest country in the southern hemisphere and many struggle to earn a living through means that are not necessarily friendly to their bodies. One of such ways is how people use wooden carts with car tyres to get commodities around the city. You would be amazed at how much people can carry on such a cart. Bicycles Against Poverty project is haiti is to devise means or perhaps try to adopt a bicycle cart that would be as useful as the current cart being used.
With this project comes many challenges but hopefully we will successed in the midst of everything. Not so long ago, i ran into a man who was carrying the top part of the car on his cart. Which was basically a the whole frame of the car and obviosly without the engine, tyres and a few other things. One thing that they dont know is home much this weight affects their backs and life span in turn. Most of them are obviously concerned about earning the daily bread rather than looking in the future which is perfectly reasonable if you live in conditions as harsh as they do.
Anyway, we are hoping we will be able to develop a cart they they can adopt - one that is not back breaking but good enough to carry a good amount of weight besides, the more they carry the more they earn.
We might have to have some educational seminars on the issue because it will be impossible to change the way things are done unless people understand the consequences of how things are being done currently.
So, this is what we are up against - changing a tradition through which people make money - but hopefully giving them a better alternative
keep posted for developments
Muyambi
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
BAP - Far and Beyond
Over the past few months after the guluwalk, we have been focusing a lot on the future of BAP and where we want to be in the next 5 years perhaps. Gathering support has been one of our strategies and to tell more people about BAP has been a huge priority.
We recently had a presentation for the Bucknell University trustees where we presented the past, present and future of BAP. From the comments we received, everything must have gone well and we intend to keep it that way.
We also had a presentation for a nearby church were we sold our merchandise from Uganda and also shared our experiences in Uganda. The congregation was amazing and we raised about $500 which is incredible.
Our dinner that was held at the victoria house was a success, all except two people showed up for the dinner. I did give a small speech about our summer project implementation and again the Bucknell community has continued to be extra supportive of our initiative.
In regards to our future, we are currently working on the creation of an umbrella organization called ROTU - Reaching Out to The Underprivileged. This organization will work towards the alleviation of poverty through projects targeted towards low income communities. BAP is one of such projects and more to come. We intend to include projects that cater toward education under a spread branch -BAP-cation "BAP Education" and perhaps health care under "BAP-care".
In order to expand our operations, we realize that costs will be inevitable and that we will need to be able to cover our operation costs. As a solution we are rigorously seeking high school and college students interested in expanding our projects to other countries to begin BAP chapters on their campus. We have seen some success in this areas so far but we still have a lot to do.
In Uganda, all is well. Two of our beneficiaries have been involved in car accidents, but nothing major. Their bicycles were replaced by the drivers responsible and so everything is in order. Payments are coming in well and in can not wait to get back in Uganda this christmas.
Keep posted for more to come
Muyambi
We recently had a presentation for the Bucknell University trustees where we presented the past, present and future of BAP. From the comments we received, everything must have gone well and we intend to keep it that way.
We also had a presentation for a nearby church were we sold our merchandise from Uganda and also shared our experiences in Uganda. The congregation was amazing and we raised about $500 which is incredible.
Our dinner that was held at the victoria house was a success, all except two people showed up for the dinner. I did give a small speech about our summer project implementation and again the Bucknell community has continued to be extra supportive of our initiative.
In regards to our future, we are currently working on the creation of an umbrella organization called ROTU - Reaching Out to The Underprivileged. This organization will work towards the alleviation of poverty through projects targeted towards low income communities. BAP is one of such projects and more to come. We intend to include projects that cater toward education under a spread branch -BAP-cation "BAP Education" and perhaps health care under "BAP-care".
In order to expand our operations, we realize that costs will be inevitable and that we will need to be able to cover our operation costs. As a solution we are rigorously seeking high school and college students interested in expanding our projects to other countries to begin BAP chapters on their campus. We have seen some success in this areas so far but we still have a lot to do.
In Uganda, all is well. Two of our beneficiaries have been involved in car accidents, but nothing major. Their bicycles were replaced by the drivers responsible and so everything is in order. Payments are coming in well and in can not wait to get back in Uganda this christmas.
Keep posted for more to come
Muyambi
Thursday, October 15, 2009
GULU WALK!
Bicycles Against Poverty will be sponsoring the annual Gulu Walk on October 25th at 1pm starting at the KLARC U
The Gulu Walk raises awareness about the hundreds of thousands of night-commuting children in Northern Uganda who walked from their rural villages into the town of Gulu and other urban centers to sleep in relative safety and avoid abduction by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) for use in the country’s 22-year war.
Starting at 1pm in the KLARC U, we will have performances by A Capella groups: Bison Chips, Beyond Unison and Voices of Praise gospel choir, along with complimentary light refreshments before the walk begins around 1:30pm. There will also be a slideshow of pictures of our trip this past summer and a showing of our documentary following the walk.
You can sign up in the LC mall the week of October 19th-23rd. You can also check out our Gulu Walk t-shirts!
The Gulu Walk raises awareness about the hundreds of thousands of night-commuting children in Northern Uganda who walked from their rural villages into the town of Gulu and other urban centers to sleep in relative safety and avoid abduction by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) for use in the country’s 22-year war.
Starting at 1pm in the KLARC U, we will have performances by A Capella groups: Bison Chips, Beyond Unison and Voices of Praise gospel choir, along with complimentary light refreshments before the walk begins around 1:30pm. There will also be a slideshow of pictures of our trip this past summer and a showing of our documentary following the walk.
You can sign up in the LC mall the week of October 19th-23rd. You can also check out our Gulu Walk t-shirts!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
First BAP Video
We have finished our first ever BAP video. It provides a description of what we did in Uganda and what we hope to continue doing. In this day and age of booming media, videos are the best way to reach people of all ages. I would suggest sending this to everyone you know to spread the word on our behalf. There is more to come, as we reach more communities across the globe.
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