"Pencil of Hope" began when my wife and I visited Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, in June 2004. We were the only tourists in the large carpark intended for tour buses & safari 4WD's. And around us, a sea of upturned young faces all hoping we could give them something. Yes, they wanted money, clothing, baseball caps, but above all they needed pencils and pens so they could learn to write at school. None were available locally. So my wife & I agreed to do something about it. Our chance came a few years later when we met Bob Selinger, a Rotary volunteer from California who spends half his year in Livingstone (just over the Vic Falls bridge in Zambia). For several years I was able to post the packs of pencils & pens to him and they made it through the customs & mail system. But that route is no longer reliable, so I collect stationery equipment from all my friends (conference & hotel pens are fine!) . Most recently at the 2011 AGM of the CSA- Toronto the members pledged to participate and this has augmented the supplies a lot. and a box is sent off with anyone I know who is visiting a poor area: all they have to do is donate the package of hope to a poor school, or give the pencils & pens to slum kids begging at traffic lights. This picture is from a class in Tanzania. And anyone can do it - why not start collecting now for your next trip? Thank you for caring!
"Pencil of Hope" began when my wife and I visited Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, in June 2004. We were the only tourists in the large carpark intended for tour buses & safari 4WD's. And around us, a sea of upturned young faces all hoping we could give them something. Yes, they wanted money, clothing, baseball caps, but above all they needed pencils and pens so they could learn to write at school. None were available locally. So my wife & I agreed to do something about it. Our chance came a few years later when we met Bob Selinger, a Rotary volunteer from California who spends half his year in Livingstone (just over the Vic Falls bridge in Zambia). For several years I was able to post the packs of pencils & pens to him and they made it through the customs & mail system. But that route is no longer reliable, so I collect stationery equipment from all my friends (conference & hotel pens are fine!) . Most recently at the 2011 AGM of the CSA- Toronto the members pledged to participate and this has augmented the supplies a lot. and a box is sent off with anyone I know who is visiting a poor area: all they have to do is donate the package of hope to a poor school, or give the pencils & pens to slum kids begging at traffic lights. This picture is from a class in Tanzania. And anyone can do it - why not start collecting now for your next trip? Thank you for caring! 