The Latest. And A Call For Support.

Truly, I’ve been amiss in keeping this blog updated since landing back in the states after my three-year 62,000 mile journey through 35 countries spanning five continents. To be sure, there are great stories and photographs from my ride across our great country. During September and October I crossed the USA using only secondary roads and small two-lane highways. The only interstate I traveled was from the Arizona-California border to the California coast. I’ll be sure to send an update as I post more stories from those days traveling through Americana.

I feel lucky to have made this trip and to be sure the aclimation back into life in the USA has been interesting, if not challenging. Have I changed? Or am I just seeing things differently, perhaps with more awareness? Regardless, I’ve been taking time reconnecting with old friends while making new ones.

In fact, I’ve made lots of new friends both on the road and through the pages of my website through generous “friends”, active commenters and curious and vicarioius travelers. That’s perhaps the most rewarding part of my trip.

Since I’ve been back in the USA I’ve developed a strong friendship with a gentlemen who is on the board of directors of a non-profit organization that has touched a chord in me. As many of you know, I’ve tried my best to leverage technology in an effort to capture my trip and convey the essence of my experience through this blog. From digital photography, to dynamic PodCasts and video production and story telling, my computer and those things that plug into or integrate the technology have enabled me to learn, share and communicate simply and cost-effectively from virtually every corner of the globe.

But most of the warm-hearted and culturally rich people I’ve met over the past three years cannot do as I have done. Here in the USA and other developed nations, we have access to technology that allows us to grow personally while providing us an economic advantage. Often on my journey I’ve wondered what it would take to get this technology into the hands of the disadvantaged. I believe that with computers, internet access and training these people can improve education, healthcare and commerce — ideally helping them become self-sufficient.

That’s where the non-profit comes in.

I urge all of you to take a look at World Computer Exchange. This organization acquires computers that would be otherwise relegated to landfills, tossed into a heap in the garage or sit lonely awaiting just any bid on e-Bay. They then service the machines and ultimately get them into the hands of community leaders in third-world countries.   

Here’s where you can help. Right now World Computer Exchange has a container shipment of personal computers destined for Senegal in western Africa. They’re short about $3,400 for paying for this shipment to Africa. The gear in this twenty-foot container will supply 15 schools and offer 6,000 youth access to 200 computers. The Peace Corps in Senegal is involved in this effort too.

World Computer Exchange is a very small organization but extremely focused on bringing technology to underdeveloped communities. Ideally, World Computer Exchange would like to find contributing “sponsors” to cover the $3,400 container shipment to Africa.

For more information about the Senegal shipment and details of how you can help and send contributions visit the Senegal info page here.

More about World Computer Exchange – Expand Minds, Not Landfills.

Used computers connecting 2,500 schools, libraries, universities &
orphanages in developing countries.

700 volunteers building capacity in 500 partner groups in 67 countries in
planning, fund raising, content & partnerships.

Teams of volunteer tech professionals using vacation time to train & help
upgrade and troubleshoot networks.

Consortium of professionals promoting recycling of electronic waste in
developing countries.

I hope some of you, even in these tough times, will find a way to get these computers shipped to Africa.

Stay tuned for more on my WorldRider travels… soon!