“Dylan the Rat” The RamblingRat theme song

The RamblingRat project arrives in Sackville New Brunswick Canada to meet folk musician Pat Le Poidevin. Pat plays to RadioRatcast to promote awareness into marginalized youth from around the world. Pat plays “Dylan the Rat” a song that is about the RamblingRat projects lead character “Dylan” who is a lovable cartoon rat who helps all the rats in need that he meets on his travels around the world. This has inspired the CJ Skatepark in Canada to use “Dylan” in a new book that will help kids to learn how to skateboard safely. Pat has an exceptional voice and his love of playing the Ukulele really shows. Most of Pats work is inspired by children’s stories that just come to him in his sleep.

Port Hawkesbury Canada

Jimmy Rankin plays his single “Slipping Away” to raise awareness of streetKids International.
Jimmy plays to Radio Ratcast in Port Hawkesbury Nova Scotia Canada which is Tim Dennis’s media channel for the RamblingRat overland project.

For more information about Jimmy Rankin and his new Album “Edge of Day” www.jimmyrankin.com

Tim Dennis meets up with the man who inspired him to travel the world.

Tim Dennis sponsors projects in Peru

Tim Dennis has joined with www.kiva.org to support two projects; these Micro loan projects are both in Peru South America. 

Kiva is the world’s first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world.

A micro loan is a small some of money that you lend to an individual that is paid back over an agreed term.

Kiva have been a key tool for this since 2006 to bring people from poverty to our personal laptops and give the man on the street the opportunity to lend directly to the person in need, this kind of lending is usually the only way someone in their position can borrow money.

I personally like the concept of micro loans, i like the fact that the money that you give goes directly to the person setting up their own project, you have the ability to follow the progress of this project to the end of the loan time frame, you can then reinvest with the same or another individual or group. 

So if you too would like to try this then go to www.kiva.org and create a profile and start lending.

Below are the details for you to look at. 

 Ketly, Sponsor 1

Ketly is 22 years old, single, and lives with his parents and siblings who support him in his endeavors. He owns a motorcar, which for the past year he has used to transport passengers to various corners of the city. He enjoys the personal rapport he establishes with his clients and has earned a good profit with his business. He administers his own daily earnings and does not have much economic overhead right now so he is doing well at work and personally. This is first loan with MFP and he has committed to his communal bank to make the payments timely. With the requested funds he will repair his motorcar and buy spare parts to build up a second one.

Name: Ketly

Location: PUCALLPA, Peru

Primary Activity: Motorcycle Transport

Loan Requested: $200.00

Repayment Term: 5 months – details

Repayment Due Dates

Mar 15, 2009 $30.43

Apr 15, 2009 $31.14

May 15, 2009 $32.99

Jun 15, 2009 $33.79

Jul 15, 2009 $35.10

Aug 15, 2009 $36.55

Loan Use: To repair the motorcar

Date Posted: Jan 2, 2009

Date Funded: Jan 3, 2009

Tim Dennis Joins www.kiva.org to assist Peruvian community.

  Group Sponsor 2

The Iris Lanao Village Bank (named for FINCA’s Executive Director) is made up of 23 members, who are beginning their fourth loan cycle. All of the group members are from the Chiara District, located one hour outside of the city of Ayacucho. Most of the local community members are farmers or raise animals. The group members are involved in a variety of different business activities. Some sell dry goods, small animals, food, sweets, grains, or firewood, while others are farmers.

Gabriela is 33 years old and married with two children. Gabriela has a store where she sells dry goods and vegetables. She also grows corn and potatoes, which she sells in the markets in the city of Ayacucho. Rosa is 36 years old and married with six children. Rosa has a store in the Kishuar community, located 30 minutes outside of Chiara. She also farms and raises animals. Luzmila is 26 years old and lives with her partner and their three children. Luzmila raises guinea pigs (a Peruvian delicacy) and also buys guinea pigs from other farmers, selling them in the city of Ayacucho.

The group members are requesting different loan amounts, like 300 (US$ 100), 450 (US$ 150), 600 (US$ 200) or 900 (US$ 300) soles. “Iris Lanao” is requesting a total of 14,500 soles in loans. The loans will be used to buy animals, rice, sugar, sweets, firewood, clothing and grains. Some of the group members dreams are for their children to get an education, to expand their businesses, to get ahead in life and to have all the basic necessities.

Group Name: Juana Gabriela Tucno Vilca Group

Group Members:  Juana Gabriela Rosa,  Toribio,  Gloria,  Julia,  Luzmila,  Enma Isabel,  Aydee,  Bernardina,  Maura,  Adelaida,  Maria Julia,  Guillerma,  Rosa Margot,  Juan,  Leonidas Teodoro,  Gregorio,  Florentino,  Elsa, Saul,  William Wilfredo,  Norma,  Alejandro,

Location: Ayacucho, Peru

Primary Activity: Farming

Loan Requested: $4,700.00

Repayment Term: 5 months – details

Repayment Due Dates

Mar 15, 2009 $783.33

Apr 15, 2009 $783.33

May 15, 2009 $783.33

Jun 15, 2009 $783.33

Jul 15, 2009 $783.33

Aug 15, 2009 $783.35

Loan Use: Buy animals, rice, sugar, sweets, firewood, clothing, and grains

Date Posted: Jan 1, 2009

Date Funded: Jan 3, 2009

I am really excited to be working with these two projects and i will follow the progress and keep you informed as to how they are getting on with their projects.

Tim Dennis 2009

Vinny Barden from Psilodigm supports the RamblingRat project by providing the backing music to Tim Dennis’s “Around the World on a Mac” movie which became an official Apple Mac Store Event in the Uk and was shown in London and Glasgow.

Psilodigm (pronounced: sаɪ’loʊ’dаɪm) is a musical project that started towards the end of 2007 in Leicester, England, UK, as an experimental ‘project’ that allowed the artist to practice audio/recording techniques with a motiv.

It consists of one main composer and a handful of contributors.

There is no specific genre for Psilodigm because influences range from the extremes of black and grindcore metal to the most relaxing and ambient artists, so there no telling what the next songs style will be… enjoy!

John Board Supports RamblingRat Americas Arctic to Antarctic adventure

John Board

I was lucky enough to stumble upon John as a Coachsurfing guest at his house, yes John’s passion to help others extends his creative film talents and he even lets strangers from far and wide visit his Toronto home.
Pocket Pack

The Pocket Pack contains the 5 most used remedies. They will help with ailments such as headaches, anxiety, insomnia, colds, fatigue, shock, stress, and even hangovers. The Hollywood Survival Kit Pocket Pack can change your life and if you carry it with you then you can use it to change the lives of the people around you.

Click Pocket Pack to buy a Kit

For more information  www.hollywoodsurvivalkit.com

PocketComms… Is a RamblingRat benefiting Street Kids International sponsor

This product is truly amazing,  creator James Wyatt gave me one of these to help me communicate with people in Siberia.

The idea is so simple that its one of those products that you wished you had thought of yourself and thanks to James for getting me out of some interesting situations, the pocket comm’s helped me to make friends with people that could not have communicated with me, by pointing at a picture you and your new friend can learn each others language and believe me its fun to use and could get you out of very serious situations indeed.

The pocket sized global communicator with over 1,000 pictures to help you navigate
through a world with over 5,000 languages

Simple, quick and easy to use just point at a picture to get your message across

Designed to help whatever age, ability or nationality, recyclable plastic, so hardwearing and waterproof, yet Pocket money priced…From Boy Scout to Pensioner you should only ever need to buy one

PocketComms…Language First Aid at your Finger Tips

For more infomation about this great product visit the Pocket Comms web site.

www.pocketcomms.co.uk

RamblingRat benefiting StreetKids International is sponsored by Pipe Stone travel store Calgary.

Tim Dennis with Jim Broadhead

I would like to thank Jim Broadhead and all of his staff in the three stores that they run in Calgary for sponsoring my trip from Calgary to Toronto.

Jim and i had a lot in common both having a background in logistics, he and his staff went out of ther way to help the expedition by liasing with Tilley to replace my hat and other items for the road.

I was overwhelmed by his kindness when he insisted on helping me further, Pipe Stone Travel Stores are now sponsoring my drive from Calgary to Toronto. He has a genuine desire to help other travelers and like Tilley he really has a passion for people who help people linked with travel.

This more than compensates for all the stuff stolen from my vehicle in Calgary and even when i feel like i am in a place that is challenging i meet other like minded people.

Thank you Guys

Pipestone Travel Store is a privately owned specialty shop located in Calgary, Alberta. We have become the “go-to” store for people in Calgary & Area wishing to purchase high-quality travel-related clothing, electrical adapters, personal care accessories, luggage, day packs & carry-on bags.

Our product lines are represented by the most respected manufacturers in the industry including:

• Tilley Endurables Hats & Clothing
• Eagle Creek Travel Gear
• Ex-Officio Clothing
• Austin House Travel Essentials, and
• Glensport Authentic Travel Wear

www.travelstorecalgary.com

Nelson Toyota's Cal Renwick sponsors the RamblingRat benefiting StreetKids International Expedition. Photo by kind permission of the Nelson Daily News Reporter Colin Payne www.nelsondailynews.com

                                                                     www.nelsondailynews.com

Nelson Toyota’s Cal Renwick dealer principal has very kindly sponsored the expedition, Nelson Toyota is a very friendly dealership in harmony with the residents of Nelson.

Cal was very approachable and keen to assist with this project. Nelson Toyota has sponsored our StreetKids expedition with essential supplies and fuel, thank you to Cal and all the staff at Nelson Toyota

    We have been serving the automotive needs of Nelson and the West Kootenays since 1969. Our goal is to provide you with a shopping, buying, servicing and ownership experience that consistently satisfies your needs and exceeds your expectations.

Nelson Toyota was founded by Maurice Renwick in 1969. In 2002, Maurice’s sons Cal and Sandy Renwick purchased the business.

 Contact Nelson Toyota    www.nelsontoyota.com

2324 YMIR RD PO BOX 570

Nelson, BC  V1L 5R3

Toll Free: 1 888 352-2235

Tel.: 250 352-2235

Service department Fax: 250 352-3411

Sales department Fax: 250 352-2529