Poverty

The 25000 Spins Story

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25000 Spins is a non-profit business dedicated to making a difference to children in need. Their vision is to not only make the lives of children better but to empower and challenge people to get involved in the cause through physical challenges.

Craig Shipton was living in London back in 2008 when he decided to do something that would help some of the one billion children in our world who live in poverty. Craig joined me on the phone this afternoon during my program on 98.5 Sonshine FM.

I talked to Craig about why he created 25000 Spins, what the name means, what they’ve achieved so far and what plans are in place. You can listen to our conversation by clicking the play button on the audio player at the bottom of this post.

25000 Spins is of particular interest to me because I’ll be cycling with Craig and a group of others next month. The video below explains why I’m so passionate about riding with 25000 Spins. In it I tell the story of escaping Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, as rioting escalated and smoke from burning barricades filled the air.

Having seen first hand, both in Haiti and Dominican Republic, how effective Compassion’s work is, I am determined to do more to help. That’s why from the 12th to the 14th of February 2012 I’ll be taking part in the 25000 Spins Great Ocean Road Challenge.

I’ll be riding 290 kilometres in three days and I need your support. By sponsoring my efforts on the challenge you’ll be releasing children from poverty. You’ll be giving children a real chance at life. Please visit my fundraising page and make a contribution. Maybe you can afford to sponsor me for a dollar a kilometre, maybe 50 cents a kilometre, or perhaps you’d just like to donate $10, $20, $50 or any other amount.

The other thing I’d ask you to do is to spread the video as far and as wide as you can so that it make the biggest impact in releasing children from poverty. Please put it on your blog, share it on Facebook, use the sharing buttons below and do whatever else you can do to help raise much needed funding to support the work of Compassion.

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Ada Broke My Heart

Jan 11th, 2012

by Rodney Olsen.

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Next month I’ll be cycling to release children from poverty. Today I want to share part of the reason why I’m taking on that challenge.

I’ve interviewed dozens of famous singers, authors, personalities, politicians and celebrities over the years but if I had the chance to choose one moment from my radio career so far that stands high above the others it is the opportunity to tell Ada’s story. I’ll tell you more about that story in a few moments.

Over the past couple of months I’ve been looking back at my visit to Haiti and Dominican Republic with Compassion Australia in April 2008. That visit is the main reason I’m passionate about taking park in the 25000 Spins Great Ocean Road Challenge. Next month I’ll be riding 290 kilometres in three days and I need your support. By sponsoring my efforts on the challenge you’ll be releasing children from poverty. You’ll be giving children a real chance at life. Please visit my fundraising page and make a contribution. Maybe you can afford to sponsor me for a dollar a kilometre, maybe 50 cents a kilometre, or perhaps you’d just like to donate $10, $20, $50 or any other amount.

Ada’s Story

As I mentioned before, telling Ada’s story was a real highlight for me. The story of this young girl will break your heart then give you renewed hope in the difference that each one of us can make in the lives of others.

I beg you to take just fourteen minutes to listen to Ada’s story. I know that for many, setting aside fourteen minutes is too much to ask. If you’re one of the few who takes the time, I guarantee it’ll be worth it.

If you want to hear something to lift your spirits just click play on the audio player at the bottom of this post.

The whole story is worth hearing but I’ll warn you now that it will really start to touch your heart around half way through.

Ada is a girl I met and interviewed in Dominican Republic. She was a beautiful twelve year old with a bright future. I wish I could show you the picture I had taken with the two of us but I prefer to keep her identity somewhat private. You’ll understand why as you listen.

I talked to Ada, I visited her home and talked to her parents. I’m sure that all of us that visited her home on that day will remember the warm hug she gave each one of us as we left. She is a remarkable young girl.

I managed to track down her sponsor in Australia and shared Ada’s story with her. Lisa’s reaction to hearing her sponsored child’s voice is priceless. Hearing Lisa describe how she feels when she hears just how much of an impact she has had on Ada’s life is inspiring.

I don’t know what else I can say but to again beg that you take the time to hear this amazing story. If you do take the time, please let me know.

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Tim Costello talks about East Africa

Sep 8th, 2011

by Rodney Olsen.

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A disaster is currently unfolding in Africa. Millions of people are in desperate need and yet we’re hearing very little about the death and suffering that is happening right now. It can be stopped if we only have the will to intervene and do something now.

Countries in East Africa, including the Horn of Africa, have again been struck by severe drought, affecting the lives of some 13 million people. Combined with massively inflated food prices, people’s access to food and water is in jeopardy. Conflict in Somalia is affecting communities’ access to food, water, health and education services.

Over many years Tim Costello has been the voice of social conscience for many Australians, having led debates on issues such as gambling, urban poverty, homelessness, reconciliation and substance abuse. He’s someone who takes the often talked about Aussie value of giving everyone a fair go and gives it a practical expression.

As CEO of World Vision Australia, Tim leads an organisation that with the support of more than 400 000 Australians, helps more than 20 million people every year. He joined me on my Morning Café radio program today on 98.5 Sonshine FM. You can hear our conversation by clicking the play button on the audio player at the bottom of this post.

I started by asking Tim why we haven’t heard more about this massive need. Have we become hardened to the plight of others or are there other reasons for the world’s lack of action?

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Christmas Begins this Sunday

May 17th, 2011

by Rodney Olsen.

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As you probably know, in December last year I visited Papua New Guinea with a media team from Australia and New Zealand to look at the work of Samaritan’s Purse and in particular, Operation Christmas Child.

This Sunday I’ll be telling the story of that visit as Thornlie Church of Christ, 319 Spencer Road, Thornlie, launches their Operation Christmas Child campaign for 2011. The morning service begins at 9:00 and I’ll be showing a short documentary as well as talking about what I experienced.

Papua New Guinea (PNG), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands (the western portion of the island is a part of the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua). It is located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, in a region defined since the early 19th century as Melanesia. The capital is Port Moresby.

Papua New Guinea is one of the most diverse countries on Earth, with over 850 indigenous languages and at least as many traditional societies, out of a population of just under 7 million. It is also one of the most rural, with only 18% of its people living in urban centres.

The majority of the population lives in traditional societies and practice subsistence-based agriculture. – Wikipedia

While we were in Papua New Guinea to help distribute some of the thousands of shoe boxes collected this year for Operation Christmas Child.

Operation Christmas Child is a unique project of Samaritan’s Purse that brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes.

It provides an opportunity for people of all ages to be involved in a simple but hands-on project that has the power to transform children’s lives.

In 2009, our teams in Australia and New Zealand delivered over 300,000 gift-filled shoe boxes to South East Asia and the South Pacific. Globally, Samaritan’s Purse distributed an estimated 8.5 million shoe boxes to children in 105 countries.

As each shoe box gift is delivered, it is treasured by the child that receives it, and is a lasting reminder that he or she is precious to God.

One of the most exciting aspects of the trip was a visit to an area that received shoe boxes last year. We saw first hand how the simple gifts given last year have opened opportunities that have changed the health and well being of the entire community.

If you live in the Perth area I really hope that you’ll be able to join me.

By the way, you can click on the photo in this post for a closer look.

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It Shouldn’t End at the Beginning

May 12th, 2011

by Rodney Olsen.

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If you’re a parent you can probably remember the hopes and dreams you had when your child first entered the world. You held that little one close and were probably amazed at the overwhelming sense of love you felt.

Imagine being a parent in a developing country. Do you think that such a parent would feel any less love than you did on that day? Of course not. So now imagine knowing that statistically your child could die during their first few years from conditions and diseases that are preventable in developed nations. Devastating.

If you could save the life of a neighbour’s child, would you do it? Would you make every effort to save them? So, who is your neighbour?

Today is Compassion Day. Radio stations around Australia are appealing for support for the excellent work carried out around the world by Compassion Australia.

Please take a little time to watch the video above and then head to the Compassion Day website to start saving little lives.

I saw the Child Survival Program in action in Dominican Republic back in 2008. It makes a huge difference. Compassion deserves our support today.