May 14, 2023 • 10 mins
Ride 4 A Woman's Deborah Thompson talks about this non-profit that is helping Ugandan women.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:01):
You know, there's so many timeswith moms and women we kind of attack
one another and knock each other downwhen it should really never be that way
because women should support women. Momsshould support moms, even if your way
and ideals of parenting are different thansomebody. So what you listen, you
live, and you learn from oneanother. Cannot wait to have you meet
(00:25):
our next in studio guest. It'sbeen a crazy Mother's datement, Kayle.
It's been like a revolving door.But we're going to hear from Deborah Thompson
Ride for a Woman who is nowin studio. Deborah, Welcome to What
Matters. Thank you so much forhaving me here today on Mother's Day.
Ladies are working. Yeah, appreciateyou hosting today. We're binge drinking too,
(00:45):
because we had a little segment onmoms who binge drinks, so we're
not officially been drinking according to that, right, that's true. Just toasting
the women who do so much forother women and you're one of those.
Wow, we were we like coastedinto this quickly because we were in here
talking before the segment. Ride fora Woman is just amazing things are happening
for other woman women through what you'redoing with this. Yeah, So the
(01:10):
whole story started when I traveled toAfrica with my mother and we went guerrilla
trekking in Uganda and Uganda. Guerrillatrekking in Uganda. What made you guys
do that together? I've always wantedto see guerrillas. You know, they're
critically endangered Bwindi impenetrable forest where wewere as home to the largest population.
There's four hundred and fifty nine.That's it. So we went gorilla trekking
(01:32):
and then on the second day wewent and did a community day and we
visited the Ride for a Woman CommunityCenter and there we met Evelyn Habasa.
She is leading this, this nonprofitand she has in the middle of this
dire poverty, created an oasis.They are employing over three hundred women,
They have provided micro loans two overa one hundred women. They provide clean
(01:53):
drinking water for a thousand families intheir village. And they're doing it all
by making and selling baskets and handsown goods and also welcoming people to their
community center. These are beautiful,Mindy, Debbie's brought in some for us
today. I mean the quality ofthese good handmade in this area of Africa.
(02:14):
I can't only imagine what it takesto make these things. It takes
about three to seven days per basket. They collect the grasses from the area.
They're one of the few organizations that'sallowed to do so, and then
they work on making these ride fora woman. Talk a little bit more
about what it is for someone who'slistening right now and they've never heard of
it. Yeah, Like I said, it's a nonprofit and they're working to
(02:37):
sell these baskets. They're uplifting theircommunity. This is in the middle of
the most dire poverty. You know, say they who is they? The
women? All the women of Uganda, the women in Buhoma, Uganda are
they come together, They gather atthis community center and they make these goods.
They get fed a meal while they'rethere, and they're able to sell
(02:58):
these baskets and help sustain their families. We are and their own good So
what are some of the things thatthese women are going through? So we
talked about poverty, but what elseis happening to these women in their community?
Yes, well, this was thisnonprofit was set up because these women
are suffering from domestic violence, HIVand AIDS and just extreme poverty. You
(03:19):
know, we're talking about a partof the world where women's equality is not
a factor. And actually, asbefore I came on here, I was
thinking about Mother's Day and I wasthinking about women in the world, and
I did some research and you know, the United Nations. The top sustainable
goals of the United Nations right now, the number five is to achieve gender
equality and empower all women and girls. And number seven is affordable and clean
(03:43):
energy. So and that's the affordableand clean energy is how I hope to
help empower. Right for a womanbecause they didn't have electricity, is that
they have a generator. Generators aremessy, they're expensive, they have the
grid is not reliable in Uganda,so no, they do not have reliable
electricity. And coincidentally, while Iwas on the same trip, at the
(04:05):
beginning of the trip, I meta woman in her name is Michelle McGee
and she is the president of acompany called give Power. Give Power is
a United States registered five O oneC three. They are platinum rated and
they were also a Fast Company voteda World Changing Idea Award with Fast Company
magazine. They are installing clean renewablesolar energy power in the developing world,
(04:31):
two uplift communities. That's specifically whatthey do. You know what's amazing to
me is you had no idea probablywhat you were about to stumble on to.
You are going to truck guerrillas withyour mom. You come across the
situation and then you feel in yourheart of hearts, you know what,
I can do something about this inCentral Ohio. Yeah, you know.
(04:53):
I mean when I called Michelle andwell, first I called Evelyn and I
said, what do you need toget your business on? And she said,
we need electricity. And then Ithought about Michelle McGee and I called
her and I said, this iswhat I found and I also met you.
And she said this is serendipitous.It is, It truly is.
(05:13):
And I, you know, Ithought, okay, here we go.
This is a project. It's goingto take a while. But I just
felt like, because it was droppedin my hands, that I had to
do it, you know, Ihad to do it. And you had
an auction, yea online auction,yes, which ended on Friday. It
was kind of a correspond with yourbirthday. Yes, my birthday was Friday,
And I thought you know how peopleask like, please make a donation,
(05:34):
and on her my birthday blah blahblah. I thought, well,
you know that's nice, but Iwant someone to get something out of it.
So I had Evelyn shipped me abunch of stuff and we auctioned it
off and we raised and we raisedover five thousand dollars. But we also
had the support of the local community. You know, we had a lot
of people step up and donate goodshere in Columbus to help make this happen.
(05:57):
It's beautiful and we'll post some picturesonline this week in our What Matters
group. You've brought several of thethings in today. We're heavy MICHAELA.
I mean these rights, these aremade so well, I'm like, well,
which one do we get to keep? She's like, none of them?
And that money will ultimately go back? And is it to electricity specifically
(06:17):
or what what will go this auctionfrom this week go towards specifically? I
have a gofundmate going right now.It's gone ongoing until we reach our goal.
She's what's it's it's big. It'sseventy five thousand dollars, but we
have raised to go home well,we have raised almost twenty five thousand already.
Wow, which is incredible. Youknow when I think of how people
(06:38):
in this community of Columbus, Ohiohave helped and stepped up and said,
you know, yeah, it's notright for this woman who is such a
leader of a business essentially to bedenied basic resources, right, and imagine
if she obtains these basic resources,you know, she is going to keep
investing back into her community. AndI think that's what I like about Ride
(06:59):
for a more than anything, isthat, you know, there's so much
jealousy in this world, and womencan be mean and they can be bitter,
and my gosh, it's just weknow that's the reality of it.
But on the other side of it, when you have people willing to help
one another and lift each other up, it's such a better way to live
(07:20):
your life. And if you thinkabout the small circles. Karen Kaysik is
obviously a friend of yours. He'sa friend of mine. He was one
of the people who wrote in mybook, So that's your connector okay,
gave me your information. You walkinto studio, you look at michaela and
you guys have done a store together. It's all about networking and kindness.
(07:41):
Why would someone as a mom ora woman, why to try to tear
someone else down when we can liftthem up. I think a lot of
people are doing work like this.It's just quiet, right because in our
world we don't necessarily put the mostvalue with this kind of thing. We
hear about those other stories mandy,bitterness, the jealousy, the canny things
people do to one another. Butwe can get together and do this right
(08:01):
now. So the ride and ridefor a woman, You've got to explain
that. So these are very verysmart and innovative women. And when they
first started, you know, peopleget around Buhomo Uganda on bicycles, and
so they thought, well, someoneneeds to repair these someone, you know,
we can help maintain these and thenpeople can ride their bikes and help
(08:22):
us do fundraising. So that's howthat story is, how that name came
about. That's not where they arenow. I think they're thinking of changing
their name. Yes, So well, what do you say to the people
who say, you know, what, what about helping the women here of
Central Ohio or here in America?Oh, I'm sure you get that.
(08:43):
I don't think it's a choice Ithink you can do both, okay,
And I think that what I loveis that you know, yes, I'm
involved in my children's activities, I'minvolved in things in my local community here
all the time. But this particularproject just has the potential to create such
an impact in the world right becausewe have no understanding of the poverty and
(09:09):
the underdevelopedness of this other world.No, I mean some of these some
of these women are facing facts likeone out of five children dies before the
age of five, average life expectancytwenty seven years old. You know,
so when we think about how wecan uplift them versus you know, my
children's school. Again, I don'tthink it's a choice. I think you
can do both. I don't thinkit's that hard to find the time to
(09:33):
help both. Bless you for allthat you're doing. And when's your next
trip over there. It's funny youshould ask. We're going over in May
twenty twenty four and we're doing afundraising trip. Every single provider is going
to donate their services so that twothousand dollars of every trip scheduled goes back
into this project. So you'll getto see firstand the difference you've made it.
(09:54):
We're going to get to see itget installed. Yeah. I hope
they thank you and I hope theywill show the appreciation to all you've done.
It takes a village of Mikayla,it truly does. And your village
is the worldwide Web. So wherecan people go find your go fund me
account? Thank you so much?Is it gofund me? Slash forward slash
ride for a woman? And that'sthe number four ride for a woman?
(10:16):
Yes, well, bless you forall the work you're doing. And tell
Karen and I'm glad that she connectedus here in case. It's always been
one of my faves. I knowshe's a great woman. Yes she is.
Debra, thanks so much for beinghere. Thank you so much for
having me. And happy Mother's Day. And you look fantastic and that came
from Uganda. Your it did.My skirt was made by ride for all
these pictures are going to go online. Oh yeah, can you be a
(10:37):
model for a second. Absolutely thatthis is what matters On six ten wtv N
You know, there's so many timeswith moms and women we kind of attack
one another and knock each other downwhen it should really never be that way
because women should support women. Momsshould support moms, even if your way
and ideals of parenting are different thansomebody. So what you listen, you
live, and you learn from oneanother. Cannot wait to have you meet
(00:25):
our next in studio guest. It'sbeen a crazy Mother's datement, Kayle.
It's been like a revolving door.But we're going to hear from Deborah Thompson
Ride for a Woman who is nowin studio. Deborah, Welcome to What
Matters. Thank you so much forhaving me here today on Mother's Day.
Ladies are working. Yeah, appreciateyou hosting today. We're binge drinking too,
(00:45):
because we had a little segment onmoms who binge drinks, so we're
not officially been drinking according to that, right, that's true. Just toasting
the women who do so much forother women and you're one of those.
Wow, we were we like coastedinto this quickly because we were in here
talking before the segment. Ride fora Woman is just amazing things are happening
for other woman women through what you'redoing with this. Yeah, So the
(01:10):
whole story started when I traveled toAfrica with my mother and we went guerrilla
trekking in Uganda and Uganda. Guerrillatrekking in Uganda. What made you guys
do that together? I've always wantedto see guerrillas. You know, they're
critically endangered Bwindi impenetrable forest where wewere as home to the largest population.
There's four hundred and fifty nine.That's it. So we went gorilla trekking
(01:32):
and then on the second day wewent and did a community day and we
visited the Ride for a Woman CommunityCenter and there we met Evelyn Habasa.
She is leading this, this nonprofitand she has in the middle of this
dire poverty, created an oasis.They are employing over three hundred women,
They have provided micro loans two overa one hundred women. They provide clean
(01:53):
drinking water for a thousand families intheir village. And they're doing it all
by making and selling baskets and handsown goods and also welcoming people to their
community center. These are beautiful,Mindy, Debbie's brought in some for us
today. I mean the quality ofthese good handmade in this area of Africa.
(02:14):
I can't only imagine what it takesto make these things. It takes
about three to seven days per basket. They collect the grasses from the area.
They're one of the few organizations that'sallowed to do so, and then
they work on making these ride fora woman. Talk a little bit more
about what it is for someone who'slistening right now and they've never heard of
it. Yeah, Like I said, it's a nonprofit and they're working to
(02:37):
sell these baskets. They're uplifting theircommunity. This is in the middle of
the most dire poverty. You know, say they who is they? The
women? All the women of Uganda, the women in Buhoma, Uganda are
they come together, They gather atthis community center and they make these goods.
They get fed a meal while they'rethere, and they're able to sell
(02:58):
these baskets and help sustain their families. We are and their own good So
what are some of the things thatthese women are going through? So we
talked about poverty, but what elseis happening to these women in their community?
Yes, well, this was thisnonprofit was set up because these women
are suffering from domestic violence, HIVand AIDS and just extreme poverty. You
(03:19):
know, we're talking about a partof the world where women's equality is not
a factor. And actually, asbefore I came on here, I was
thinking about Mother's Day and I wasthinking about women in the world, and
I did some research and you know, the United Nations. The top sustainable
goals of the United Nations right now, the number five is to achieve gender
equality and empower all women and girls. And number seven is affordable and clean
(03:43):
energy. So and that's the affordableand clean energy is how I hope to
help empower. Right for a womanbecause they didn't have electricity, is that
they have a generator. Generators aremessy, they're expensive, they have the
grid is not reliable in Uganda,so no, they do not have reliable
electricity. And coincidentally, while Iwas on the same trip, at the
(04:05):
beginning of the trip, I meta woman in her name is Michelle McGee
and she is the president of acompany called give Power. Give Power is
a United States registered five O oneC three. They are platinum rated and
they were also a Fast Company voteda World Changing Idea Award with Fast Company
magazine. They are installing clean renewablesolar energy power in the developing world,
(04:31):
two uplift communities. That's specifically whatthey do. You know what's amazing to
me is you had no idea probablywhat you were about to stumble on to.
You are going to truck guerrillas withyour mom. You come across the
situation and then you feel in yourheart of hearts, you know what,
I can do something about this inCentral Ohio. Yeah, you know.
(04:53):
I mean when I called Michelle andwell, first I called Evelyn and I
said, what do you need toget your business on? And she said,
we need electricity. And then Ithought about Michelle McGee and I called
her and I said, this iswhat I found and I also met you.
And she said this is serendipitous.It is, It truly is.
(05:13):
And I, you know, Ithought, okay, here we go.
This is a project. It's goingto take a while. But I just
felt like, because it was droppedin my hands, that I had to
do it, you know, Ihad to do it. And you had
an auction, yea online auction,yes, which ended on Friday. It
was kind of a correspond with yourbirthday. Yes, my birthday was Friday,
And I thought you know how peopleask like, please make a donation,
(05:34):
and on her my birthday blah blahblah. I thought, well,
you know that's nice, but Iwant someone to get something out of it.
So I had Evelyn shipped me abunch of stuff and we auctioned it
off and we raised and we raisedover five thousand dollars. But we also
had the support of the local community. You know, we had a lot
of people step up and donate goodshere in Columbus to help make this happen.
(05:57):
It's beautiful and we'll post some picturesonline this week in our What Matters
group. You've brought several of thethings in today. We're heavy MICHAELA.
I mean these rights, these aremade so well, I'm like, well,
which one do we get to keep? She's like, none of them?
And that money will ultimately go back? And is it to electricity specifically
(06:17):
or what what will go this auctionfrom this week go towards specifically? I
have a gofundmate going right now.It's gone ongoing until we reach our goal.
She's what's it's it's big. It'sseventy five thousand dollars, but we
have raised to go home well,we have raised almost twenty five thousand already.
Wow, which is incredible. Youknow when I think of how people
(06:38):
in this community of Columbus, Ohiohave helped and stepped up and said,
you know, yeah, it's notright for this woman who is such a
leader of a business essentially to bedenied basic resources, right, and imagine
if she obtains these basic resources,you know, she is going to keep
investing back into her community. AndI think that's what I like about Ride
(06:59):
for a more than anything, isthat, you know, there's so much
jealousy in this world, and womencan be mean and they can be bitter,
and my gosh, it's just weknow that's the reality of it.
But on the other side of it, when you have people willing to help
one another and lift each other up, it's such a better way to live
(07:20):
your life. And if you thinkabout the small circles. Karen Kaysik is
obviously a friend of yours. He'sa friend of mine. He was one
of the people who wrote in mybook, So that's your connector okay,
gave me your information. You walkinto studio, you look at michaela and
you guys have done a store together. It's all about networking and kindness.
(07:41):
Why would someone as a mom ora woman, why to try to tear
someone else down when we can liftthem up. I think a lot of
people are doing work like this.It's just quiet, right because in our
world we don't necessarily put the mostvalue with this kind of thing. We
hear about those other stories mandy,bitterness, the jealousy, the canny things
people do to one another. Butwe can get together and do this right
(08:01):
now. So the ride and ridefor a woman, You've got to explain
that. So these are very verysmart and innovative women. And when they
first started, you know, peopleget around Buhomo Uganda on bicycles, and
so they thought, well, someoneneeds to repair these someone, you know,
we can help maintain these and thenpeople can ride their bikes and help
(08:22):
us do fundraising. So that's howthat story is, how that name came
about. That's not where they arenow. I think they're thinking of changing
their name. Yes, So well, what do you say to the people
who say, you know, what, what about helping the women here of
Central Ohio or here in America?Oh, I'm sure you get that.
(08:43):
I don't think it's a choice Ithink you can do both, okay,
And I think that what I loveis that you know, yes, I'm
involved in my children's activities, I'minvolved in things in my local community here
all the time. But this particularproject just has the potential to create such
an impact in the world right becausewe have no understanding of the poverty and
(09:09):
the underdevelopedness of this other world.No, I mean some of these some
of these women are facing facts likeone out of five children dies before the
age of five, average life expectancytwenty seven years old. You know,
so when we think about how wecan uplift them versus you know, my
children's school. Again, I don'tthink it's a choice. I think you
can do both. I don't thinkit's that hard to find the time to
(09:33):
help both. Bless you for allthat you're doing. And when's your next
trip over there. It's funny youshould ask. We're going over in May
twenty twenty four and we're doing afundraising trip. Every single provider is going
to donate their services so that twothousand dollars of every trip scheduled goes back
into this project. So you'll getto see firstand the difference you've made it.
(09:54):
We're going to get to see itget installed. Yeah. I hope
they thank you and I hope theywill show the appreciation to all you've done.
It takes a village of Mikayla,it truly does. And your village
is the worldwide Web. So wherecan people go find your go fund me
account? Thank you so much?Is it gofund me? Slash forward slash
ride for a woman? And that'sthe number four ride for a woman?
(10:16):
Yes, well, bless you forall the work you're doing. And tell
Karen and I'm glad that she connectedus here in case. It's always been
one of my faves. I knowshe's a great woman. Yes she is.
Debra, thanks so much for beinghere. Thank you so much for
having me. And happy Mother's Day. And you look fantastic and that came
from Uganda. Your it did.My skirt was made by ride for all
these pictures are going to go online. Oh yeah, can you be a
(10:37):
model for a second. Absolutely thatthis is what matters On six ten wtv N
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