sosfamine

sosfamine.com,Alain Jens  A solo trip around the world to meet and connect the children of the world from the schools of the world to create a better future  

Preamble

• Humanity & Solidarity – two familiar words... Two words which, despite their frequent use in everyday language, fail to prevent 16,000 children from dying of starvation every day following the neglect, the lack of interest or worse, the wealth of interests of certain parties

Based on the obvious truth that...

• The youths of today are the adults of tomorrow

The objective of this project is to...

• Help children discover the value of human relationships
• Make them reinvent the meaning of sharing, the respect for people and environment
• Help create a world with fewer injustices, more balance and a healthier state of mind, where everyone has a place and a role to play

To this end, I will...

• Meet the youths in the schools of the world to describe, exchange and share thoughts about this trip, its purpose and consequences
• Offer dedicated website pages to the schools of the world, to encourage children to connect, understand and respect each other
• Create an album different from any others, with photos and texts put together by the children of the world for the children that are too often forgotten. The album will have two parts – the first of which is expected to be completed by the end of 2013 – and the sums collected from its sale will be used to purchase school materials and supplies for underprivileged schools

With a profound motivation that springs from the fact that...

• A terrifying number of children die from hunger or curable diseases each day
• The concept of sharing, which is vital for the planet, has virtually disappeared
• The gap between the poor and the rich widens day by day, while poverty sets“comfortably” in the world

Considering the situation...

• I believe that taking corrective action to reduce the global imbalances has become a must!

This is a journey around the world...

• A solo journey, in my 10 year-old Land Rover and its 200,000 km, a tool box, a small spare part stock, a portable welder and iron wire (!), an additional fuel tank and a great deal of motivation and valuable support… such as yours, if you feel so inclined! See how you can contribute

When will the journey start?

• Preparations are underway and the departure is expected for the 1st of April 2012 (not an April fool’s joke!) from the south of France

A preview of the itinerary...

• Broad outlines: Europe - United States - Canada - Alaska - South America - Australia - New Zealand - Asia - Middle East - Africa
• You can stay tuned by visiting The Journey page and add comments on the Let us share page of the sosfamine.com website

This journey, which is estimated to last approximately 5 years, will not in fact be time-bound (!) and will be adjusted according to authorisations - granted or not - to cross certain countries, and, most of all, according to spur-of-the-moment situations and encounters.

During the journey, the best way is to get lost. When one goes astray, projects leave room to surprises, and only then does the journey begin. (N. Bouvier – Swiss writer, photographer, iconographer and traveller. 1929-1998)

To boost my chances of meeting locals as well as local media around the globe for enhanced efficiency, I have become member of http://www.CouchSurfing.com – whose purpose is to help create enriching experiences between people through accommodation exchange.

Three steps...

… set the foundations for this project a long time ago.

After careful consideration, research & position taking, I made the decision to prepare the actual journey.

Every aspect was taken into account: from the official permits required and the research on the countries to cross to the selection of the equipment suitable to face a variety of challenging situations, the physical preparation and the financial planning.

This solo trip will be self-funded and carried out in a good old Land Rover!

Good – I do hope so :)

Old – yes, that’s right, but so am I :)

Land Rover – because it handles even the roughest terrain :)

After investing my small savings in the project, all that’s left is my “personal fortune” which basically consists of my arms, my head and my heart.

The total investment is significant. Although the project is almost entirely self-financed, a little more is needed for it to start off – a minimum amount of 3,330 € would allow me to complete the vehicle revamping phase and go on to the next step.

The roads and tracks that await us will certainly prove challenging for both the vehicle and the driver and while the latter tries to stay in shape by working out regularly, the good old Rover needs rejuvenating.

This is why I turn to you for help.

Brief introduction about myself

Alternately traveller, tower crane fitter, crane operator, international heavy-transport driver, business manager, website administrator, a hard-working and adventurous nature, with a dash of stubbornness (oops!) and perseverance.

But also… fervently against injustices that I hate almost as much as the trusts, the banks and the politicians or, in other words, the men for whom no one else matters but themselves.

Admittedly… I deeply hate selfishness and self-centeredness

There are no desperate situations, there are only desperate people. (Vietnamese proverb)

And now that you know what I dislike, you must also know that I like people who care about people! I love the idea of sharing, the human relationships, the travels and the travellers, the young people to whom I hope to share these values that I find so enriching.

The traveller sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see! (Gilbert Chesterton)

This journey is based on my research and is fuelled by famous declarations such as the FAO Head’s: “We have the technical means and the resources to eradicate hunger from the world so it is now a matter of political will, and political will is influenced by public opinion”. (Jacques Diouf, FAO Director-General)

The aim of this journey is to gather voices to remind our elected representatives

that the right to food is one of the principles of the

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (U.N. 1948).

Let us give voice rather than money – this is the master idea of this journey.

And, although seemingly contrary to this idea, I am requesting funds to complete the upgrade of the vehicle to be able to spread the word in all the corners of the world.

At some point during the second semester of 2012, after hours, days, weeks and months of

work and preparations, and with your valuable help…

Off we go!

Acknowledgements 

to all of you who can contribute with funds, but also to those of you who will support the project and keep it moving by visiting the website, spreading the word, signing and urging others to sign the petition.

“Never be afraid of life, never be afraid of adventure. Believe in your fate, your chance, your destiny. Dare to conquer other places, other hopes. All other things will be given to you in addition.”  (Henry de Monfreid- French adventurer and author, 1879 – 1974)

Respectfully yours

PS:Please remember to sign the petition!  http://www.sosfamine.com ... I told you, I’m a little stubborn!