Hi, I'm Michael Paull. In January 2012, I'll be undertaking a 12,000 km journey from Egypt to South Africa by bicycle.
However, this is no ordinary bicycle trip. My journey from Egypt to South Africa is a fundraiser in support of HOPE International Development Agency. My goal is to help the organization provide clean drinking water to several Ethiopian villages, which will greatly improve the lives of all who live there.
When visiting Ethiopia with HOPE International Development Agency in early 2011, I immediately saw the long-term value of their work. They were helping a village gain access to an abundant and sustainable supply of clean water. HOPE’s Ethiopian water experts were working alongside members of the village to build a gravity-fed water supply system to transport clean water from a protected source located kilometers away to the village.
In addition to providing a reliable supply of clean water and significantly reducing rates of disease, the completed system also gives the village's young girls an opportunity to go to school instead of working all day hauling water. I was so impressed by the project. I knew I had to do my part to help.
With this goal in mind, I'm setting forth on this opportunity of a lifetime. So please, join me in support of my goal.
Together, we can make a noticeable difference in the lives of thousands.
A little about the project
HOPE International Development Agency is a Canadian organization that's been working among the poorest of the poor in developing countries for 36 years. My friend suggested that I look into the organization's clean water projects in Ethiopia.
I've worked as a volunteer and board member with several nonprofit organizations, so I take fundraising very seriously. After familiarizing myself with the work of HOPE International Development Agency, I agreed that it was a fantastic project, but I still wanted to know more. I wanted to see the organization in action. In January of 2011, I got a call saying a member of the organization and a few volunteers were going to Ethiopia and I decided to go with them.
Hope in action
I was in Ethiopia for two weeks and visited four different villages. HOPE International Development Agency's team of Ethiopian water experts live in these villages for up to six months at a time. In one village I visited, the organization is working alongside village families, helping them build a gravity-fed clean water system. The system transports clean water from a distant source to the village. While the project's primary goal is to provide a sustainable and abundant supply of clean water, there's more to it than that. Having clean water available right in the village means young girls can attend school rather than spend their days in search of water. It also means that disease rates fall dramatically.
In my 35 years as a volunteer, I have never seen a project of this nature provide benefits to a community so quickly. I knew then that I wanted to get involved with Hope in a larger capacity. I realized that my bike trip could be more than just a trip for myself; it could be a fundraising project.
My goal
The Ethiopian people I met were so committed to improving their own lives, but often lacked the resources to do so. My goal is to help the organization provide clean drinking water to several Ethiopian Villages and improve the lives of thousands.
My journey now has a clear and worthwhile purpose, and I can't wait to get started. Thank you for reading. I will continue to update this site with photos, blog entries, and more as I document my 12,000 km journey.
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