My Blog

Fast Tractor - you saw it here first - join us. May 20, 2012

I'm writing this for some of my close contacts - and I'm also sharing it with readers of my open letters at     http://dadamac.posterous.com

Here is the story so far of a race against the clock - and you are invited to join in

The challenge - and the countdown

Tuesday May 15th - John Dada was summoned to Kaduna

Wednesday May16th - John sent this email just before the start of our weekly UK-Nigeria meeting

TRACTOR: We paid deposit on a Government subsidized tractor about two years ago. Yesterday, I was summoned to Kaduna and informed we have been allocated a tractor if we can raise the balance of payment within 21 days! The Government is offering s 40% subsidy, but even at that the balance of N1.8 Million (UKP7,200) to be paid within 21 days is a tall order for FF at this time. Unfortunately there are individuals waiting ready to pay for the tractor if we do not meet the deadline. They will buy it and go to resell it  on the open market

so there was a 21 days deadline, given yesterday - 20 days to go

Wednesday May 16th during our weekly meeting Nikki and I got more details. John had expected to be able to pay for the tractor over a period of 10 months - with money raised by renting the tractor out. He was in no position to suddenly find that money.

Thursday May 17th - I mentioned John's problem to my friend Steve Podmore, who mentioned it to his friend Phil and, shortly after midnight, Steve and Phil caught me on Skype with the start of a plan to find the money for John to borrow. 19 days to go

Friday May 18th - Steve told his friend Iain - who is a copy writer - and he got enthusiastic as well. We had a plan and the start of a team! 18 days to go

Saturday May 19th - I was at Westminster Hub for PICS Festival 2012:and mentioned the plan to a couple of people who were supportive, including Nessa. an illustrator who offered to get involved. Steve, Iain and I met up to move things on. Steve has the vision for making this happen, Phil has a marketing background and also knows about peer to peer microfinance lending networks, Iain does words, Nessa does illustrations, and I can give factual details - but only 17 days to go

Sunday May 20th - 16 days to go - Nikki wrote up the background in Tractor Trouble - urgent help needed please http://dadamac.net/blog/20120516/tractor-trouble-urgent-help-needed-please. Starting to pull things together, setting up systems, and collecting the information we need. Working through a google group and micro-site on google - but we need more help - time is short and we are all fitting this in around existing commitments.

Will you join us?
 
contact me if you are interested - pamela.mclean@dadamac.net - or simply watch out for more news about Fast Tractor - and please pass it on