Mi Amigo Antonio!
The used 40hp we are hoping to see behind a boat soon!
How I met Antonio.
After travelling the world for two years I settled into the small fishing village of Assedores, Nicaragua for 6 weeks of surf and sun. Originally, Antonio was my boat driver on various surfing
expeditions. Over the course of my stay he became a true friend and my eyes were opened to just how amazing this man and his
family were. The last couple of years I have seen many things and been to more places around the world than I can count. I've experienced great kindness and have a new found sense of faith in humanity everywhere, but it all pales in comparison to the generosity, sincerity and comfort that radiates from Antonio.
When I left last year, I made a promise to myself that I would come back and help such an incredible man find a way to provide the life for his family he had always hoped for.
Antonio's Story.
Antonio, a fisherman by trade leads a simple life and is very content as a man and a father. My only concern is that of his ability to help his family get ahead due to the severity of his financial constraints. Antonio gets by leading surfers to an offshore break and guiding fishing tours when there are people to be had. In a remote village though, customers are often in short supply. To make matters worse, with no boat or motor Antonio has to rent both out and then pay for gas out of his share. This leaves him with on average 6 dollars. Let me repeat that. Six dollars. In two weeks, I have seen him take out two parties. If he is not in the boat, he is not making a dime. That works out to less than a dollar a day. In an effort to earn extra money Antonio has been care taking 3 properties bought by a British investor. He has been doing so for 3 years and has yet to be paid a single dime. When I asked him why he continues to do so, he told me that the places would be robbed and he did not want to see this man loose his possessions.
With a large family his ability to get ahead in such a poor village is next to impossible. Nevertheless he provides for them to the best of his ability, by working very hard when ever he can find something that needs to be done. If money weren't a concern, Antonio wouldn't need our help, in fact I would be going to him for lessons on how to be a better man. An extremely good father, respected and loved by the entire community and honest to a fault. I have personally seen him turn down fishing tours and surfing expeditions when the fish aren't biting and the waves are small. That's just the kind of man he is.
I look at Antonio with a sense of admiration that I don't believe I have ever held for any one before. In the face of extreme adversity I see a man of unbelievable integrity that needs nothing more out of life than a kind gesture from a group of amazing people with the means to help. A motor and possibly a boat would literally forever change not only his life, but the life of his family. I cannot stress this enough: 2700.00 dollars (1200.00 for the motor in the picture and 1500.00 for a used boat) would mean that Antonio no longer has to pay a commission to anyone ever again. No money to the engine owner, no money to the boat owner, Antonio will pay for his gas and upkeep and the rest will go directly to helping provide a more comfortable life for his family. He will finally be free to develop his own business and fish the waters he loves. All it takes is passing up on a Friday night dinner with your
friends.
What YOU Can Do.
I know this is hardly official and there is no way I can give a tax receipt, there is no paper trail or organization to sign a check over to. Quite simply the money you choose to donate would go directly into my account and from there it would go immediately towards purchasing the boat and motor. I am aiming this page specifically at the people I know and trust and in return know and trust me. All I can ensure you is that unlike most other charitable donations, you will know EXACTLY where your money is going and can be sure that every penny is working towards changing the life of the most deserving man I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. When the goal is met I will issue a thank you card with a picture of Antonio and Alex in the boat.
That being said. The method is simple. My email address is [email protected], my full name is Scott Mackinnon, simply email me or send me a Facebook MSG with your desired donation and I will keep it on record. With my email address and an online banking account, the transfer is a simple procedure. If for some reason the 2800.00l is not fully met anyone donating past the price of the motor will have their money promptly refunded.
Thank you for reading and again. If you do decided to donate, you will be creating possibilities in ways that would have never been realized otherwise.
After travelling the world for two years I settled into the small fishing village of Assedores, Nicaragua for 6 weeks of surf and sun. Originally, Antonio was my boat driver on various surfing
expeditions. Over the course of my stay he became a true friend and my eyes were opened to just how amazing this man and his
family were. The last couple of years I have seen many things and been to more places around the world than I can count. I've experienced great kindness and have a new found sense of faith in humanity everywhere, but it all pales in comparison to the generosity, sincerity and comfort that radiates from Antonio.
When I left last year, I made a promise to myself that I would come back and help such an incredible man find a way to provide the life for his family he had always hoped for.
Antonio's Story.
Antonio, a fisherman by trade leads a simple life and is very content as a man and a father. My only concern is that of his ability to help his family get ahead due to the severity of his financial constraints. Antonio gets by leading surfers to an offshore break and guiding fishing tours when there are people to be had. In a remote village though, customers are often in short supply. To make matters worse, with no boat or motor Antonio has to rent both out and then pay for gas out of his share. This leaves him with on average 6 dollars. Let me repeat that. Six dollars. In two weeks, I have seen him take out two parties. If he is not in the boat, he is not making a dime. That works out to less than a dollar a day. In an effort to earn extra money Antonio has been care taking 3 properties bought by a British investor. He has been doing so for 3 years and has yet to be paid a single dime. When I asked him why he continues to do so, he told me that the places would be robbed and he did not want to see this man loose his possessions.
With a large family his ability to get ahead in such a poor village is next to impossible. Nevertheless he provides for them to the best of his ability, by working very hard when ever he can find something that needs to be done. If money weren't a concern, Antonio wouldn't need our help, in fact I would be going to him for lessons on how to be a better man. An extremely good father, respected and loved by the entire community and honest to a fault. I have personally seen him turn down fishing tours and surfing expeditions when the fish aren't biting and the waves are small. That's just the kind of man he is.
I look at Antonio with a sense of admiration that I don't believe I have ever held for any one before. In the face of extreme adversity I see a man of unbelievable integrity that needs nothing more out of life than a kind gesture from a group of amazing people with the means to help. A motor and possibly a boat would literally forever change not only his life, but the life of his family. I cannot stress this enough: 2700.00 dollars (1200.00 for the motor in the picture and 1500.00 for a used boat) would mean that Antonio no longer has to pay a commission to anyone ever again. No money to the engine owner, no money to the boat owner, Antonio will pay for his gas and upkeep and the rest will go directly to helping provide a more comfortable life for his family. He will finally be free to develop his own business and fish the waters he loves. All it takes is passing up on a Friday night dinner with your
friends.
What YOU Can Do.
I know this is hardly official and there is no way I can give a tax receipt, there is no paper trail or organization to sign a check over to. Quite simply the money you choose to donate would go directly into my account and from there it would go immediately towards purchasing the boat and motor. I am aiming this page specifically at the people I know and trust and in return know and trust me. All I can ensure you is that unlike most other charitable donations, you will know EXACTLY where your money is going and can be sure that every penny is working towards changing the life of the most deserving man I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. When the goal is met I will issue a thank you card with a picture of Antonio and Alex in the boat.
That being said. The method is simple. My email address is [email protected], my full name is Scott Mackinnon, simply email me or send me a Facebook MSG with your desired donation and I will keep it on record. With my email address and an online banking account, the transfer is a simple procedure. If for some reason the 2800.00l is not fully met anyone donating past the price of the motor will have their money promptly refunded.
Thank you for reading and again. If you do decided to donate, you will be creating possibilities in ways that would have never been realized otherwise.