Safari leads couple to provide bicycles for kids in Tanzania

"It's typically a male-dominated society," Naomi Hughes said, but the couple were adamant that the selection process be conducted fairly, with a random lottery drawing for winners -- 22 boys, 22 girls and a coed draw for the 45th winner. All the winning children provided their names and described their goals. They also posed for photographs with their new bike -- mementos that Naomi Hughes later gave to her donors to show how their money was used.

It's a personal touch that the Hugheses said they are determined to keep, even as they hope to expand their efforts.

"We're in love with Africa," Naomi Hughes said. The couple have booked their next trip for May, when they hope to donate 100 bikes: 81 to students and 19 to the school's teachers, who also travel long distances and are paid little.

"It will be an annual event," Mark Hughes said.

Ultimately, the Hugheses would also like to donate bicycles to other schools in Karatu. But they don't want to get too ambitious, Naomi Hughes said. She likes that they're able to have such a direct impact, that all of the money raised goes toward the bicycles and that her donors can see how they're helping. Some donors have struck up pen-pal relationships with the children.

"This isn't charity. It's giving them an opportunity to succeed," Naomi Hughes said. "It's a way to impact an entire family forever."

For information on how to donate, e-mail omistar@erols.com or download the donation form at http://www.grandcirclefoundation.org.