Emily Hoskins

The very first distribution of the BEEP bicycles is underway. Wheaton Academy High School was able to raise enough dollars to support Chilyabale Basic School in the district of Chongwe with bicycles. Today each house hold has experienced The Power of Bicycles.
World Bicycle Relief hosted the students of Wheaton Academy and they were just as, (if not more) excited than the students recieving bicycles. The students of Chilyabale were able to put a face to where the bicycles were coming from. And, the Wheaton students were able to put a face to that of their counterparts in rural Zambia.
Considering this was World Bicycle Relief’s ’soft launch’ it was quite a party, and one not to soon be forgotten by the students of either school.

Floran starts the dance party, before the bicycles even arrive.

Emmanuel, a World Bicycle Relief employee in Zambia, starts the drum and gets the students dancing.

Cynthia, was last but not least in the line of the 100 students recieving bicycles.

Andrew right before his name was called. He ran from the crowed like his name was just called for “The Price is Right”…priceless.

Chilyabale is a Basic School in Zambia, which means it goes from grade one to grade nine.  Chilyabale will be the first school to receive World Bicycle Relief bikes in the name of the  the Bicycle Educational Empowerment Program (BEEP).  This is considered World Bicycle Relief’s ’soft launch’.  There will be no media, no ministry of education, no political parties… just one very determined group of teenager from Wheaton Academy.  This is a very special, very talented, and very dedicated group of high-schoolers, who, if you haven’t seen it already have video taped themselves walking the distance that Zambian students walk everyday to raise money for Chilyabale Basic School.  The Wheaton Academy students arrived today, bright eyed and bushy tailed after a long (to say the least) international flight from West Chicago, Illinois to Lusaka, Zambia.  For many of these students, it is their first time seeing Africa, and their first time traveling internationally.  

Today was their first introduction to Africa and World Bicycle Relief where they learned about the program and why they are here.   When they first arrived, they were asked if they think giving as a humanitarian effort was more about helping other people as much as it feeding your own soul.  
What I’m really excited for is what the Wheaton Academy students will do with their new found friends and new found responsibility, because the idea of Africa is very different than being in Africa. The Students of Wheaton Academy have made great strides in the way of contributing to the Chilyabale community, and the community celebrated that effort and invited the students into their lives.  I’m anxious to see if the cycle will continue, and what Wheaton Academy will do next.

Leah and I got to meet the students that will be receiving the bicycles from Wheaton Academy. They wrote letters to World Bicycle Relief expressing what they were looking forward to in the bicycle, how it would change thier lives, and the impact it will improve their education. The letters were great, the chat we had afterwords was even better. What follows is a few quotes from the mouths of the students at Chilyabale.

I will wake fast and arrive on time for learning.  Kebby, 14, grade 7.

I want to be an accountant.  Im in grade 8, when I pass my exams and go on to grade nine I will take the bicycle to high school; six kilometers away.

Loveness, 16, grade 8.

I want to be a soldier, the bicycle will help be to be strong and get an education.  Brighton, 14, grade 8.

I walk four kilometers to school.  My younger sister walks four kilometers too.  With the bicycle I will be able to get the two of us to school on time.

Violet, 14, grade 7.

Its nice to see the strides that Ndapula, a small community school has made since November of 2008. The first time World Bicycle Relief scouted out Ndapula, we got lost. Partly because its ten kilometers off the dirt road, and about a 45 minutes from the paved road, and had a painted car tire hanging from a tree at the fork in the road that promps you when to turn left. The school was founded by a husband and wife team who built the school with the idea that the children of the community needed a place to learn that was accessible to families that could not pay to go to government schools that required fees. The teachers are volunteers and there is a optional donation of 1000 Kwacha per term (thats about 0.19 USD). After the excitment of the first visit, and the anticipation of many more Ndapula hammered up a brand new, hand painted sign directing visitors to the school. It really could not be more charming. Ndapula Community School will technically be the second school to get World Bicycle Relief bikes, however, this the is considered the main launch. The Ministry of Education, international media, local media, World Bicycle Relief media, family, friends, supporters, and community members are all coming. Its going to be a party to say the very least.
In gearing up for this momentus occasion, I talked with a few students about what they hope the bicycle will bring to their own lives, as well as the lives of their families. Answers poured out, from. “I’m going to wake up happy knowing that I will be prompt for school” to “I will be able to sell tomatos at the market” to “I can bring my young sister to the clinic.”

“I live with my cousins and my aunt. All of my cousins go to school here. I want to put all of them on the bicycle and arrive.”
Rodgers, 12, grade 6.

“With the money I can earn with taking vegetabels to the market on the bicycle I can help my mom pay for school fees.” Mairriem, 12, grade 6.

This is Ndapula Community School. Students walk up to six kilometers a day…each way to come to school here. Its the blue thing there at the bottom of the frame…next to that tree…

The Bicycle Education Empowerment Program (BEEP) is not the only exciting thing going on at World Bicycle Relief, Zambia.  Monday afternoon, Leah and I held a photo class on how to make good pictures.  Many of the World Bicycle Relief staff, including the drivers were on attendance.  The drivers being very crucial students as they are the ones making the most trips out into the field.  As World Bicycle Relief implements its  BEEP, it will be serving approximately 500 Zambian schools.  That’s a lot of ground to cover, and the drivers get to see it all. And now, with their new passion for picture making and a few cameras, are inspired to document it all.  Im excited to see what they come up with.  Since the staff in Zambia is almost entirely African, they will be able to bring an inherent point of view that is unique, to World Bicycle Relief.  Will will be seeing a different side of schools, caregivers, students and  distributions!

With our Olympus 1050’s in hand, this crash course in photography included key elements such as exposure, framing and lighting – all the essentials.  Equally important, was the friendly reminder that you, ‘the photographer’ are responsible for  everything that goes on in the four walls of your frame.  To make sure none of your subjects had trees or poles growing out of their heads, that the flash was used when needed, and to use appropriate exposure compensation.  

What you will find in the following is a few talented photographers, who also happen to be the skilled drivers of the World Bicycle Relief distribution trucks.  

Charles, meet the Olympus 1050.  1050, Charles.

“Hands on”  learning with Baldwin.

Excellent use of perspective!

Charles and Gift, learning from Leah.

Abson, Gift and Baldwin getting the hang of making a portrait!  Move over Dawoud…

Craig, a seasoned photographer and World Bicycle Relief staff, sharing skills with a few good drivers.

I was lucky enough to share the airplane ride from Atlanta to Zambia with a Greek-South African.  I wasn’t sure those existed until just recently.  Coincidentally, he shared the same ideals about NGO’s as World Bicycle Relief does as far as the importance of sustainability goes.  He started a not for profit named Vukani-Ubuntu,  a sustainable jewelry shop.  Vukani-Ubuntu is the African philosophy based on the principle which emphasises that the individual is part of a community and interacts through that community,not independently of it.  As kind as he was, I have not made up my mind about him as of yet.  In between inappropriate comments about my American ‘curves’ and his education of American politics coming strictly from MAD magazine he was enthusiastic, to say the least, to describe to me everything he knows about fair-trade minerals and precious stones; to which I have made up my mind about.  I agree.  

It also reminded me about a US organization that too deals with fair trade precious metals and jewelry making.  Brilliant Earth is getting supplies from real conflict free mines in Canada as well as Namibia.

Sitting around a beautiful fire tonight, with an (almost) full moon, open Africa air and with friends of World Bicycle Relief and Chikumbuso, we were asked by Bruce Wilkinson, the Vice president of international programs for World Vision, “what are you thankful for?”  Well luckily, I had the previous 50 hour commute to Zambia to think it over.  What I was thankful for, was the very thing that had pulled me into World Bicycle Relief in the first place.  Family.  

When we had all returned back from Zambia in November of 2008, over a delicious holiday dinner with the crew, Leah Missbach Day asked; “why World Bicycle Relief?” Besides the great connection of friends that introduced me to the organization, the reason I was so inspired to get involved was the sense of family I experienced the day I met the Chicago team.  That feeling only grew stronger when I met the crew working and living in Zambia, so much so that I wrote about it for the February World Bicycle Relief newsletter.

Before I left to come back to Zambia this month, someone asked me; “what are you looking forward to most?”  My answer was the moment when you realize your actually in Africa.  Because it doesn’t happen immediately, in our case, it took just under three days.  I realize I’m in Africa when someone asks “How are you?” and actually cares to know the answer.  They ask after your family and your health.  This time was a bit different, the moment came sooner than expected…not even in Africa actually, before.  

Boarding the plane in Atlanta to Johannesburg, I was the last to have my boarding pass swiped, something was wrong.  From the less than par Delta customer service and the lack of communication, I determined it has something to to with my luggage.  Going to the wrong destination, not going at all…whatever.  My traveling buddies (FK, Leah and Lincoln Day) had already been checked in and were waiting patiently in the doorway for Delta to give me an answer…or at least a boarding pass.  Approximately four minutes until push-off, another Delta crew member saw it as her personal mission to get the already checked passengers on the plane.  I was the last one without a boarding pass and that flight attendant was intent on getting all three of them on the plane with our without me.  When polite back and forth seemed to no longer work, FK finally said; “She’s our family, were not leaving without her.”  My moment came early, I didnt have to wait to be in Africa.  What I’m thankful for is the journey and the sense of family that FK and World Bicycle Relief try hard to achieve whether that be in Chicago, Zambia, or anywhere in between.

Many of you already know about World Bicycle Relief, if you don’t, do. World Bicycle Relief.

Thanks to one Andrew Martin of Andrew Martin Photography I have been able to have the incredible pleasure of meeting and working with Leah Missbach Day and World Bicycle Relief. I like to believe it is serendipity, and our philanthropic interest in Africa that brought us together. It also might have something do with astrology…Im not sure. What I am sure of is how rewarding it is to work for a true non for profit that is doing it, and doing it,  and doing it well. This triumphant organization was co founded by Leah and her husband FK Day, and now is home to myself  other determined Chicagoans and Zambians in the US and Africa.

The mission of World Bicycle Relief is to provide access to independence and livelihood through The Power of Bicycles. What started as a response to the Tsunami in Sri Lanka in 2004 has adapted itself to the challenges Zambia faces today.
Over 24,000 bicycles were provided to those greatest in need after the Tsunami to help rebuilt their lives. Today, World Bicycle Relief is providing 23,000 bicycles in support of a comprehensive HIV/AIDS initiative.
In November of 2008, we traveled to Zambia to photograph the affects of the bicycle. I had a few good months under my belt seeing (through photographs) who was being affected, but to see those bicycle in action was something else entirely. I wrote about my experiences in the February issue of the World Bicycle Relief Newsletter.
Beginning in June 2009, the Bicycles for Education Empowerment Program, (BEEP, … clever, I know) will provide approximately 50,000 bicycles to increase access to school for children in rural Zambia who are especially at risk for extreme poverty and high HIV/ AIDS infection rates.

Why am I telling you all of this? Because if you care enough to have read this far down on the page, you will care that this is where I will be posting the blog worthy moments of my life as it has to do with World Bicycle Relief for the month of June while we are initiating the Bicycles for Education Empowerment Program (BEEP! … still clever). That’s right, no more $1,500 iPhone bills while I call friends and family at 3am trying to get them to talk, or at least understand that there is a nine hour time difference.

Although I regret missing out on the great things that are going to happen whilst I’m away ( my cousins wedding, baby shower, the birth of her second child and her own birthday), we will always have Skype … and web cams.

Coincidentally, the truck we took into the field for the week was named the Emely!  Needless to say, we had the best of luck.

It’s not so funny when your co-workers try to marry you off.  Kennedy (above) is my ‘husband’ in the field and first line of defense.

World Bicycle Relief bikes can be spotted all over in rural Zambia, pretty incredible.

Also incredible, are my sweet dance moves.

What you might not know is, the handle bars of a World Bicycle Relief bike double nicely as a holder for your slingshot.

The Leah Missbach-Day, co-founder of World Bicycle Relief, in action.  Making photographs, then dinner.

Im just going to jump right in and put in a few items of excitement up that have had no outlet until now.

I had never left the country until I graduated college, being an American, thats a bit embarassing, to say the least.  My brother and I had only seen Wisconsin Dells for a week and Disney World for the exact amount of time, and yes, they were both family vacations.  Both were heavily documented by my dad and his Canon T70 35mm SLR.  Weeks later, mom would pick up the prints and we would spread them out on the carpet and I would organize a visual timeline of our adventure from beginning to end.  The photographs would be pressed into the pages of scrapbooks that would eventually be responsible for taking over the front closet.  It would be years until I recognized what my parents had instilled in me, and years still until I understood the powerful relationship I held with photographs.

What family vacations looked like if you werent my dad.  He’s left handed.

Knowing that there was more to see and  the opportunity to study with an inspiring African history professor prompted a sumer long visit to Africa (not to mention current politcal agendas). I still have never lived anywhere outside of my home state. However, I continue to try to find my way back to Africa.

For three months I was living in Ghana, where I earned the nickname ‘Flashy’ because of how often my flash would fire when I was photographing kids.  The nickname spread, soon I was faced with dozens of Ghanaian pre-teens who only knew me as Flashy-Flashy.  I gave a handful of them disposable cameras and a crash course on how to find their own flash buttons and sent them on their way . What they came back with was an introspect to their village only they could tell.

All too soon, I was meeting up with my professor on the opposite end of Africa, were we traveled the Southern region together meeting with apartheid activists, freedom fighters, HIV/AIDS organizers, all individuals with a story to tell and making a difference.  I was able to use photography as vehicle of cultural exchange.  Im interested in the human quality, and they are interested in the camera.  Curiosity and discovery tend to complement each other when this exchange occurs.

Now this is what trips are looking like if your not me.  I’m my fathers daughter.

The following is a few photographs made by the children in Ghana, others are photographs made while traveling in Nambia, Botswana, Mozambique, Swaziland, and South Africa.

Self portrait, Evans, 12

After school soccer game in the street.

Portrait of Mary.  By Fred, 10.

Gladys and the girls cooling off after school.  Trouble.

A flood in the Volta region of Ghana.

Restuarants in Ghana are Chop Bars. Most, if not all, are named after the man. Hallelujah.

Chop bar family chefs.  By Gladys, 13.

Walking home from the chop bar.

Fufu with a side of goat. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Coffee to go.