MANILA, Philippines - It started with a dream. When friends Kyrre Lind-Isaksen and Otto Hildeng found that they shared a common childhood dream of sailing around the world, they decided to team up for the adventure of a lifetime.
Together with two other friends who are now back in Norway helping to raise funds, Kyrre and Otto started to plan their trip, leaving behind their jobs – Kyrre, as sales director of an engineering company which helps other companies reduce their energy consumption, and Otto, who has a master’s degree in science and a job at media company.
The planned one-year voyage was eventually extended to two years after they realized that they would not get too far in only a year. Finally, they settled for three years and, starting the journey in 2007, they are already half-way through.
“But there was something missing,” says Kyrre. “We also wanted to give something back.” UNICEF, they say, was the best organization for their cause, with operations in countries all over the world. They liked how the organization operated both internationally and locally. “They have sustainable projects that involve the community and are focused on education, family, and children’s rights,” says Otto.
Thus, To Fluer was born. Literally “two flies,” To Fluer alludes to the Norwegian expression, “To kill two flies with one swat,” or the equivalent of the American “To kill two birds with one stone.” It is the perfect name for the project as it is a fulfillment of a long-time dream of the Norwegian sailors, while at the same time, a way to raise funds and create awareness for the causes of UNICEF. They have set their goal at $200,000.
“We were told it was too ambitious,” says Kyrre. “But we are already half-way through the trip and we have raised $100,000.” The sailors plan to contribute the funds raised by the journey to the UNICEF project Schools for Africa.
With all the goals in place, the To Fluer team bought a boat off the Internet and set sail – without any real training or experience. “You told me you had experience,” Otto says to Kyrre, who replies that his father had owned a boat and took the family out occasionally, but he had never been out in the open sea.
“We’ve been to a lot of fantastic places,” says Kyrre of the journey so far. He lists the stops in South America and the Pacific as the most memorable.
Otto recalls their trip to the mystical Easter Island as the most unforgettable. “Some parts of the world are still the same as they were in the beginning of time,” says Kyrre. “It gives hope that the world still has a chance.”
Because of the unpredictable changes in weather and current, the team’s travel plans change constantly as well. “We go anywhere the wind takes us,” says Kyrre.
Recently, that wind has drifted them to the Philippines, docking first in Cebu then flying to Manila. Kyrre and Otto were joined by their friends Marte Hoeiby, Marius Boe Viken, Slavisa Gacic, followed by Lars, who is making a documentary on the expedition. In Manila, the group visited the children of UNICEF and Childhope’s Alternative Learning Systems (ALS) in Binondo.
Childhope Asia Philippines reaches out to street children through different programs catering to literacy, health education, sports and recreation, and counseling. Through the ALS, they are able to reach out-of-school youth, bringing the education to the streets.
Butch Nerja, known to his young charges as Kuya Butch, is a success story when it comes to what education and care can do. Once a street child himself, his tough life took a turn for the better when he was referred to the Center for Migrant Youth. Now, he is a street educator for Childhope and serves as a role model that many street children look up to. He was also named EB Hero by the popular noontime show, Eat Bulaga.
“There’s so much hope,” Kyrre says of the children who listened attentively as he and Otto – with Kuya Butch translating – told them of their adventures. “No matter where you are in the world, if you hold on to your dreams, anything is possible,” Kyrre told the children. “Stay in school,” Otto added, education being another of their advocacies. “It’s nice to meet children with eyes full of hope and with people who care for them,” says Kyrre.
A key problem that they noticed in Manila is that the children are highly exposed to drugs and other dangers of living and working on the street. Education becomes an important and rare commodity, making Childhope and UNICEF’s roles even more significant. The To Fluer team has supported UNICEF’s efforts throughout the world and it is no different in the Philippines. They encourage everyone to support UNICEF’s Child Protection Program through becoming a Champion for Children, where a minimal monthly donation can help Filipino children exercise their right to education, healthcare and nutrition, and protection from abuse and exploitation.
“I think most people are annoyed by the street children,” Kyrre observes. “But we can all actually help get them off the streets.”
“Filipinos are full of heart,” says Kyrre, noting the resilience of the children and how happy they still are despite their situation. “You can’t help but fall in love with the people.”
Already, the Norwegians’ visit has started to do some good. Mary Anne Mesa, a young child they were able to talk to, says that she would also like to travel to many places some day and she will strive to finish school, “para matupad ang aking mga pangarap (so that I can fulfill my dreams).”
It started with a dream. As the To Fluer motto goes: “To Fluer is… a lifelong dream of seeing the world. A heartfelt desire to contribute. A dream of opening doors and gaining perspective. A desire to make a difference.”
Kyrre is already planning his next adventure – a road trip, this time around West Asia. But, for now, they continue toward their goal. “We are very goal-oriented,” says Kyrre on what keeps them motivated through the many days and nights at sea. “Reaching $200,000 has become an obsession.”
He adds, “At first the goal was to get around the world. Now I see it as a unique opportunity to meet people.” For the To Fluer crew, the journey has become more important than the destination.
To learn more about To Fluer, visit www.tofluer.com. To become a Champion for Children, log on to www.unicef.ph or call 758-1000.