Welcome to LUM’s Ford Global Focus Page, and Congratulations to the 50 teams chosen for the Test Drive in Madrid!
We made the deadline, and then we became a finalist, but we didn’t make the final 20 teams from the USA… Oh well- life goes on. We’ll just have to get to know some Ford trucks in Malawi- the Global Ranger perhaps?
It was a busy December for Light Up Malawi- we earned our permanent spot on GlobalGiving.org on the 22nd, and then moved straight into Christmas and putting this video together! Thank you Matt, Aaron, Josh and James for helping us create an excellent video with 2-4 days of turn-around time over Christmas!
Thank you to you all who viewed and voted, pushing us from 201st video submitted to the top 60 # of views within our first 4 days online!
If you’ve not seen our video, please go to www.bit.ly/gGEBve :
So, what is the Global Ford Focus, and what Focus do we have in the USA now?
There used to be 2 design teams within Ford. USA (North America) & ‘Other’ (the rest of the world). Over the past couple years, Ford realized that wasn’t working for them- and it was hurting their bottom line. So, they merged the two firms into one, and took the best designs. What remains is the 2010 Ford Global Focus- a car that will have 80% of the same parts, no matter where its built or sold.
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Why does Light Up Malawi want to work with Ford?
Working together now is in the interest of both Ford and Light Up Malawi. Not for public relations, but for practical – Real World Value Creation.
One critical aspect of our work in Malawi will require trucks. The 4×4 off-road capable F-250s are already available in Malawi, and in addition to the extremely capable Off-Road Global Ranger. In a country filled with NGOs using LandCruisers and Toyota Tundras (HiLux in that market), we want to stand out by working with an American company.
We’re a believer in using a business’s unique skills and core competencies to support others – not just giving away money. CSR doesn’t have to mean throwing money at a problem for PR and marketing. It can also be about using what you have to do things no one else can.
Ford employees have the skills and resources we need to succeed in Malawi. We want to build this relationship now, and start something more in Malawi.
Thanks again to Kenyon, and his son, Kenyon. Kenyon Sr. helped us get permission and cars prepped for our video at Uftring Ford. They gave freely of their own time to help us film on Christmas Eve morning!
Strong support from great people who “bleed blue” like Kenyon is what will take our project forward!