See our intro video here.
Origin Story
In 2006, Michael volunteered at an orphanage in Mexico for several weeks. While there, he noticed the orphanage had many, small needs. The brakes on their truck desperately needed servicing. The water supply line to the property was cracked and leaking. The electrical service to the property’s water pump needed attention. Flies were getting into the food because the cafeteria windows had no screens.
In 2010, Michael volunteered at an orphanage in Bolivia, and noticed the same sort of needs. The batteries for the solar lighting system needed replacing. The propane stove in the cafeteria leaked and needed new gaskets. Blankets were needed to keep the kids warm at night.
$40 fixed the truck’s brakes. $5 replaced the water pipe. $5 fixed the electrical service issue. With just a little bit of money and a little bit of effort, the safety and quality of life of these kids were improved.
The Big Idea
After retirement, we both wanted to fulfill our desire to travel the world by motorcycle. With hearts for service, we wanted to do good along the way. Personal savings and a pension would cover all the costs of our travelling and personal needs. With just a little more, we would be empowered to make a difference.
What’s A Twonie?
In Canada, “twonie” (or “toonie”) is the nickname for the $2 coin that was introduced to replace the $2 paper note in 1996 (this followed the introduction of the $1 “loonie” in 1987, so-called because it features a common loon).
Putting Twonies To Work
In wealthier countries like Canada, $2 is such a small amount – mere pocket change that often gets dumped in car ashtrays and desk drawers. What if we could get a bunch of people to partner with us by donating that pocket change, just $2 a month? Just a handful of people could cover the cost of electrical repairs. A few more partners could provide the means for another brake job. The support of a group of caring individuals could provide new batteries to enable an entire orphanage to have solar-powered lighting at night.
Sure, we could ask for more, and we would happily accept any amount, but we decided to ask for just $2 a month. Not for our needs (remember, all of our personal needs are covered), but for improving the lives of those we meet as we travel from place to place.
Partner With Us
We invite you to partner with us by contributing just $2 each month. In doing so, you can play a very real part in making someone else’s life a little better. Our regular blog will feature the projects that you support, and the people who benefit from your donation.
What About Admin Costs?
There are no admin costs – it’s just us, and we’re taken care of. There will be a small transaction fee automatically charged by PayPal – that’s unavoidable. But, any other costs, such as this website, or business cards and stickers are paid for out of our pockets, not yours. So, every penny we receive from you will go directly to making an impact in someone’s life. Take a look at our balance sheet.