Meeting people, good, bad and unremarkable, is one of the pleasures of travelling. We have made numerous friends along our various routes, and stayed in contact with a significant number. Now, we also have our pilgrim and couchsurfing hostel in Arles, where we are able to meet even more people, without sore feet or backsides (if we are riding). A great experience.
We never ask for payment, but we do tell them about a couple of charitable projects we support and suggest that if they really want to pay us they should do so in the form of a donation. If you are interested – read on.
Les Enfants de Yabiro
In 2010, we rode to Vercelli and back, tracing the via Domitia and via Aurelia, for our latest guides. In association with the trip we also raised money for Les Enfants de Yabiro. Why? Well, having worked with a number of NGO's in the past, I think it is fair to say that I have a realistic view of what foreign agencies can bring to countries in need of development support, but I also have a less favourable view of the way a number of these agencies operate. The AMS, an association founded by our neighbours, Ann-Marie Sasse and her husband, is a prime example of how small agencies can and should be managed. Here is her story, in her words:
Jean-Claude and I were in the open scrub land of the de Haunde province, Burkina Fasso, when a crowd of happy, chatting children stopped to talk to us. As a consequence, we also met their teachers, three for 310 students, who showed us round the school and explained that only the oldest students had classrooms, while the youngest were taught under a simple shelter. It was on this day that we decided to provide them with a classroom too, one that would protect them from sandstorms, rain and above all the sun. The AMS association - children of Yabiro - was created at the end 2008 and thanks to numerous donations from friends, relations, customers and local businesses; we were able to begin the construction of the classroom at the beginning of March 2010.
The Children of Yabiro, now have two fully-equipped classrooms and a water well.
Pedro Morales, Bolivia
Paul and I were travelling in South America, and more specifically, Bolivia in 2011. After 36 hours in a 4x4 (including one night sleeping on the road, because a section had been washed away), we arrived in Apolo, a tiny town in the Franz Tamayo Province. Here, we stayed in the convent Nuestra Señora de Nazareth, met Sister Lutgarda and after some days, also Pedro who was studying in the garden. When we asked who he was, we were told that he was one of a number of orphans accommodated in the convent. We also learned that he had been a problem at school until Sister Lutgarda had discovered that he needed glasses. From here his whole demeanor changed, not only becoming an outstanding student, but also displaying real musical talent. Now, at the age of 17, he is studying for his final exams and hopes to go onto study music in La Paz, but of course he will need financial help to pay for the fees and his living costs.
We said nothing at the time (though I did give him my flute, anonymously), but of course we did not forget him and when a pilgrim gave us a donation of £750, telling us to "do what you want with it, but make sure it includes a bottle of wine", it seemed too much of a coincidence to ignore. So, for the last 3 months we have been telling people who stay with us that the money will go to Pedro, for his education in La Paz.
We have asked him to take a small amount of the money for the purchase of a camera, and promise that he will maintain a blog so that people who have helped him can follow his progress. We will put the link up here as soon as we have it. Meanwhile, we just have the 3 photos you can see.