There’s been an announcement regarding the 2010 Overland Expo. Check out the press release we received here.
Don’t forget to view the Overland Expo website and follow OverlandExpo on Twitter for all the latest news.
- Chuck
I apologize for the delay, everyone! I got sidetracked with a video project for a week but I’m finally ready to post the identities of the lucky entrepreneurs. It looks like all of the entrepreneurs were successful in raising money - all five of the loans have been disbursed! This means the entrepreneurs have received the money and they can begin paying it back.
Slavojka comes from Bosnia and Herzegovina. She is 47, retired and lives with her son who is studying. Her monthly income from pensions is not large and it is not easy for her to pay all costs, especially now that her son is at university.
Slavojka decided to request a loan of 1,200 KM from WWI (Žene za Žene International). She will use this loan to buy more clothes for resale. She hopes to earn additional money to make her life and her son`s life easier.
Gladys is a member of the Communal Bank Group “Madres del Futuro” (Mothers of the Future). She is a 41 year old single mother of two children (ages 27 and 26) who work and are independent.
Gladys helped her mother as a cook and after two years studied tailoring, eventually opening a shop in her home. She makes school uniforms. Using her savings she purchased a secondhand minibus, which her son drives. She also sells beauty products by catalog.
Since joining FINCA, Gladys has learned how to organize her business. She is punctual and responsible with her loans. Gladys needs a loan of 3400 soles to fix her car so that it will pass inspection. She will also buy more beauty products. She dreams of growing her business and purchasing another gas-powered minibus.
This is Victor and he is at an initial stage of business. This is his first activity in the market, as a beginner entrepreneur. His main activity is to manage a business but not work physically because he has problems with his health so he launched his own business not long ago.
He has requested a loan to purchase goods for a grocery, marketing food wholesale and retail, in the immediate vicinity of the central Ungheni town. Victor is working on licensing in food alimentation.
Currently, he has rented a shop for selling food, non-stop 24/7 selling foodstuffs (meat, spirits, cigarettes, juices) while preparing dinners for customers with a rich assortment, being equipped with a mini kitchen, a hall and booths for customers, and another cold room which is necessary for normal activity in the case our customers are required to stay in a row.
Microinvest is sure that Victor will succeed in his business and KIVA lenders wish him GOOD LUCK.
With this loan, Mr. Diallo plans to realize a monthly profit of 22,500 francs CFA that will enable him to improve not only his enterprise but particularly the care and support of his family. His ambition is to open a general store in Bougouni.
Saleh is twenty-eight years old and lives in Saida, in southern Lebanon, with his wife and their two children. Saleh has been working in furniture repair and upholstery since 2002. He requested a loan from Al Majmoua, a Kiva field partner, in order to purchase thread for his work and to repair one of his sewing machines. This is the first time that Saleh has requested a loan.
Saleh is exceptional in his work because he does it well. His clients can be anybody from his region. When he first started his business, things went well. Saleh decided to open this business because he had prior experience. In the future, he plans to improve his business by purchasing a new and bigger sewing machine.
I’ll be posting the every update I get from each of the entrepreneurs. I hope you guys get inspired to donate!
- Chuck
Greetings! I hope everyone had an excellent 4th of July! I apologize for the delay between blog posts, but I was on the road for a week or so.
Poverty is a global problem and in many places, things don’t seem to be improving. Charities can help, but oftentimes these are subject to local graft and don’t encourage self-sufficiency. Kiva aims to change that.
Kiva uses microfinance (the supply of loans and other financial services to the poor) to change this. Kiva connects business owners in developing countries with first-world lenders. Let’s say a woman in Nigeria wants $1000.00 to develop her laundry business. A local organization contacts Kiva, who alerts members. Members are free to donate as much as they want - the standard donation is $25.00. The more members Kiva has, the more effective it can be.
As a Christmas gift for a family member, I sponsored Charity Edewo and she is almost done repaying her loan. It’s a great concept with proven results.
To do our part, Expeditions West will be lending to four different people. This is a way to help change someone’s life at a very low cost to yourself.
Stay tuned tomorrow when we unveil the lucky four!
- Chuck
Tom Collins spoke tonight and gave an incredibly cool speech about his experiences on the Camel Trophy. He was genuinely enthusiastic and was willing to spend time talking to anyone with a question. His experiences and photos really drive home just how grueling the Camel Trophy could be - but one could tell that he regarded it with a certain nostalgic quality and wistfulness, especially when he spoke about the camaraderie between team members and participating members.
Here’s a double-sized portion of photos (50+) for you all to digest!
-Chuck
It’s a bit windy here at the fairgrounds, but the sun is shining and everybody is having a good time. This is the first day the Expo has been open to the public and the turnout seems to be quite good. I’ve been doing much of what I did yesterday - floating around to the different areas, courses, and classes to take photos.
There is also a ton of really cool gear on display. The vendors all seem to be drawing lots of interest. It’s too bad I can’t afford most of it. Maybe they will take an I.O.U.?
One of the coolest things I saw this morning was the women’s overland driving course. It’s neat to see that everyone can find something to enjoy in the overland experience. After a scheduling conflict left the Overland Journal booth empty, I stepped up to the plate and manned it for a brief time.
I also found the time to attend Josh White’s Overland Videography class which was extremely useful. I was able to get a lot of good information out of it, which I hope to be able to use soon enough.
Coming up this afternoon, we have vendor demos, more classes, and stayed tuned later for more photographs!
Greetings everybody, my name is Charlie Nordstrom and I’m going to be covering the Overland Expo for Scott. Check back daily for news, photos, interviews, and video leading up to and during the Expo.
The first Expedition Portal member dropped by today - Mr. Paul Robinson. Paul was able to sit down with me for a little question and answer session and stick around long enough for me to get some photos of his awesome vehicle.
Q: Alright, let’s get started. Can you tell us your name and where you’re from?
A: Paul Robinson from Houston, TX
Q: What’s the make and model of your vehicle?
A: 2006 Range Rover Sport
Q: What sparked your interest in overlanding?
A: I’ve always done a lot of road trips and a fair amount of traveling. The two kind of intersected one day and I decided that it was time for an SUV that could take me to places I had never been before. I learned about the off-highway piece by joining the Houston Land Rover Club. the guys in this club are very patient with new people. I started doing events and soon I started doing more extreme events and I started going further and further off-road.
Q: What was your first vehicle?
A: This one.
Q: What’s the most memorable experience you’ve had in your vehicle?
A: I had a very nice trip last year which was a combination of doing the Great Divide and going through places like Black Bear Pass and Poughkeepsie Gultch and the off-road trail near Ouray. then we went to Moab and did the White Rim Trail. we spent two days camping there. I have all the Clint Eastwood songs on my iPod and i put them on as I drove through the Canyonlands. that place is spectacular and I would go back there in a heartbeat.
Q:What’s your favorite region/trail/location to drive?
A: Anyplace with nice scenery. Mountains, desert, remote areas. The White Rim Trail.
Here’s the accompanying photo gallery:
I’d like to thank Paul for taking the time to drop by the shop and spend a little time here. I look forward to meeting many other Expedition Portal members.
For all you Twitterers out there, follow the official Expeditions West twitter account at: http://www.twitter.com/ExpeditionsWest .
-Chuck
We at Expeditions West are excited to be in attendance at an awesome event coming up in 2 months, just a few miles away from home. We look forward to meeting many fellow adventurers there. Roseann Hanson from ConserVentures is planning the expo, and here is an excerpt from the website:
“Overland Expo is the first-ever event exclusively for the overlanding community. Join us and title sponsor Overland Journal April 24 – 26, 2009, in central Arizona’s beautiful Prescott Valley.
You will meet fellow overland enthusiasts from all over the world to share experiences and learn new practical skills as well as tips on how to get out there exploring your world - whether 100 miles or 10,000 miles from home.”
Check out the website for more information: http://www.ovexpo.com. We hope to see you there!