Youth Bike Journey for our climate
A$5,390
of $5,000 targetyrs ago
Successful on 11th Mar 2013 at 12:00AM.
Paapedi - a bicycle Journey that will empower Sri Lankan youth to address climate change.
Help Journeys for Climate Justice (JCJ) go way beyond $5,000
and contribute more to this great project.
(Costs are indicated in the budget below. Note that the bikes now have a Sri Lankan sponsor - terrific news!)
10 days : 25 youth : 25 bicycles : 234 kilometres
one shared future
25 young Sri Lankans - men and women, Sinhalese and Tamil - will embark on a life-changing trip as they ride from the ancient capital of Anuradhapura to Colombo through national parks, and rural and urban communities.
After initial training, the youth will educate the public about climate change through interactive street theatre and formal presentations. They will do water and air quality testing, and each day experience organic, wholesome and sustainable living. They will visit organic farms and community based organizations, and hear talks from local government leaders and monks.
The Journey will culminate in a ‘critical mass’ bike ride into the capital of Colombo, joining thousands of Sri Lankan cycling enthusiasts in an Earth Hour demonstration to promote bike riding as a sustainable means of transportation.
These experiences will equip the 25 youth to initiate their own environmental projects in their own communities after the bicycle journey. The group will be inspired and empowered to become the next generation of Green Leaders in Sri Lanka, creating a legacy of positive change.
This Journey is happening because JCJ is partnering with Eco Friendly Volunteers (ECO-V), a homegrown environmental NGO in Sri Lanka.
(These photos are from the 2011 Journey along the Kelani River).
Links
http://twitter.com/JourneysClimJus
http://www.facebook.com/journeysforclimatejustice
More about the Journey
Through an innovative training program and field trips along the Journey, the youth will learn about climate change, environmental degradation, water quality, biodiversity and organic farming, as well as how to live sustainable, eco-harmonious lifestyles.
A focus will be Sri Lanka’s wetlands and the threats to its intricate rainwater catchment system that for generations supplied farmers with water to sustain Sri Lankans and over 300 varieties of indigenous rice. It is a system now under threat from agrichemical pollution, unsustainable use, modern mismanagement, invasive species and climate change.
All their activities mean they really will be up at 6am and active till 10pm. There will be many fun activities, while each will spend considerable time reflecting on the trip through writing, drawing, poetry and presenting what they have learnt to the whole group.
How your donation will make a difference
Your donation will directly contribute to making the bike ride happen. JCJ funds go directly to support the participating youth. Our target is $11,000.
If we raise more funds, then that will help support the youth for the two years that ECO-V wants to give support. We would love to raise $15,000. This will help to support new projects initiated by the youth from both the 2011 and 2013 Journeys.
If our target of $11,000 is not reached, ECO-V may have to cut back on the numbers of youth who are participating or on the range of activities. We are working actively to ensure that this does not happen.
Please contact [email protected] if you have any queries regarding the gifts or the campaign.
Project Budget
JCJ is helping to fund just part of the Journey. We are seeking to raise funds to pay for 50% of selected costs (excluding administration and staff costs). The items we are funding, and our 50% of the cost, are shown below. ECO-V is confident of raising the remaining funds largely from its supporters in Sri Lanka (as happened on the first Journey).
$1,679 Bicycles
$1,325 Helmets, lights, bags, tools, water bottles
$317 Posters, stickers & flyers - 80,000 to distribute to local communities
$1,423 Clothing for all participants - t-shirts with Paapedi logo, pants, sneakers
$3,561 Food and accommodation
$2,515 Transport of youth to and from bike ride & support vehicle
$653 Scientific studies - water quality testing materials, bird & ecology books
$11,473 Total
The story of JCJ and its co-founders
This is the second Journey conducted by ECO-V. The support of JCJ was critical to the first Journey also. Links to videos on YouTube are below.
In 2011, 21 young men and women, both Sinhalese and Tamil, undertook a 12 day Journey down the Kelani River. It was such an adventure. Now we have some wonderful projects initiated by the youth themselves - the effects of the Journey continue to ripple.
ECO-V president, Kanchana Weerakoon, says that JCJ was a wonderful supporter of the first Journey, and is delighted that they are again playing a key role in making this new Journey happen.
Kanchana, an ecologist based in Sri Lanka, is about to lead this exciting cycling venture. She's passionate about protecting the environment and educating youth in this mission. Her organisation ECO-V has a great track record of conservation initiatives since 2001.
Jim Crosthwaite is a Melbourne-based economist who has lectured on the economics of climate change. Concerned about the limitations of carbon offsets, through JCJ he has found a way for people in Australia and elsewhere to support and connect to environmental projects that will lead to significant change.
They met when Kanchana was living in Australia for a year. Just before she left in March 2011, JCJ was launched by Victoria’s Governor, Professor David de Kretser AO.
For the 2011 River Journey, see:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7B_tQ5IAW4 (4min)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfcefmB9OkI (14 min movie with sound track)
Links
www.jcj.org.au
http://www.facebook.com/journeysforclimatejustice
http://twitter.com/JourneysClimJus
Big thanks A shout out thanks to you via social media e.g. Facebook
9 chosen / 191 available
Est. delivery is Mar 13
Signed thank you photo postcard and note from Sri Lanka. Includes 4 photos & signed thank you and note from a youth participant Plus $10 reward (shout out thanks)
10 chosen / 90 available
Est. delivery is Apr 13
Membership of our great little organisation Journeys for Climate Justice. Plus $10 reward (shout out thanks) and $25 reward (signed photo postcard). Great value on top of the usual m'ship fee of $30. We’d love to have you on board because you really support our aims.
8 chosen / 192 available
Est. delivery is May 13
Handicrafts from Sri Lanka Two items made by ECO-V volunteers - a pendant and a tote bag, displaying ECO-V logo. Plus $10 reward (shout out thanks) and $25 reward (signed photo postcard) Postage free in Australia
7 chosen / 3 available
Est. delivery is May 13
An evening of tasting Sri Lankan tea in inner Melbourne - with tea sommelier Sarah Cowell and creator/ director/ owner of Porcelain Tea Parlour Scarlett Killaly. (Please also check our $110 reward for you and a friend) Includes afternoon tea and a packet of specialty Sri Lankan tea. Plus $10 reward (shout out thanks) and $25 reward (signed photo postcard).
3 chosen / 4 available
Est. delivery is Feb 13
Gorgeous photobook of the Journey. Plus $10 reward (shout out thanks) and $25 reward (signed photo postcard). Printed copy available Australia; PDF available internationally.
1 chosen / 79 available
Est. delivery is Jun 13
Sri Lankan meal with Prof. David de Kretser AO, former Governor of Victoria and climate change advocate and JCJ patron. In a private home in Melbourne. Plus $10 reward (shout out thanks) and $25 reward (signed photo postcard) - optional.
1 chosen / 5 available
Est. delivery is Mar 13
An evening of tasting Sri Lankan tea for you and a friend in inner Melbourne - with tea sommelier Sarah Cowell and and creator/ director/ owner of Porcelain Tea Parlour Scarlett Killaly. Includes afternoon tea and a packet of specialty Sri Lankan tea. Plus $10 reward (shout out thanks) and $25 reward (signed photo postcard).
3 chosen / 5 available
Est. delivery is Jun 13
Evening over Sri Lankan meal with Prof. David de Kretser AO, former Governor of Victoria and climate change advocate and JCJ patron. In a private home in Melbourne. Plus $10 reward (shout out thanks) and $25 reward (signed photo postcard) - optional.
2 chosen / 8 available
Est. delivery is May 13
A beautifully framed Certificate of Appreciation Signed by Kanchana Weerakoon, founder of ECO-V and Prof. David de Kretser AO, former Governor of Victoria Available world-wide Plus beautiful photobook Plus $10 reward (shout out thanks) and $25 reward (signed photo postcard) - optional.
0 chosen / 5 available
Est. delivery is May 13
Guided tour and volunteering in Sri Lanka - Hosted and guided by ECO-V for one week Covers some food and travel costs within Sri Lanka. Volunteer with ECO-V for two half days. Flight and accommodation cost are additional. Plus $10 reward (shout out thanks) and $25 reward (signed photo postcard) - optional.
0 chosen / 5 available
Est. delivery is May 13
Volunteering and guided tour in Sri Lanka - for two people. Hosted and guided by ECO-V for one week Covers some food and travel costs within Sri Lanka. Assist ECO-V for two half days. An awareness briefing will be provided person-to-person, or via skype, in advance. Flight and accommodation cost are additional. Plus $10 reward (shout out thanks) and $25 reward (signed photo postcard) - optional.
0 chosen / 3 available
Est. delivery is May 13
Participate in the Paapedi Journey in March. A truly wonderful once-in-a lifetime experience - share the joy of seeing Sri Lanka by bike and awakening environmental consciousness amongst the participating youth. Assist ECO-V during the Journey, where feasible. English will be a second language. An awareness briefing will be provided person-to-person, or via skype, in advance. Flight and accommodation cost, before and after the Journey, are additional.
0 chosen / 3 available
Est. delivery is Mar 13
Sri Lankan Batik wall hanging Donated by Kanchana Weerakoon Postage free in Australia. Plus $10 reward (shout out thanks) and $25 reward (signed photo postcard) - optional
1 chosen / 0 available
Est. delivery is May 13
New bike donated by Ivanhoe Cycles To the value of $500. To be collected at Ivanhoe Cycles. Plus $10 reward (shout out thanks) and $25 reward (signed photo postcard) - optional.
1 chosen / 0 available
Est. delivery is Apr 13