Sustainable Development Success Stories
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CSD-8: Sustainable Development Success Stories |
| Location | USA |
| Responsible Organisation |
JustAct Youth Action for Global Justice (formerly known as the Overseas Development Network). |
| Description |
Students who wanted to raise awareness about sustainable development worldwide as well as raise funds to directly support projects started bike-Aid in 1986. The program takes place each summer and cyclists spend 9 weeks crossing the US raising awareness in the communities they pass through. Bike-Aid is a self-sustaining programme, and the net proceeds are given to projects around the globe. Over 1 million US$ has been given in grants to support equitable and sustainable projects around the globe since 1986. For Bike-Aid in 2000 a more direct partnership is in progress with BUSCA, Mexico City, Mexico. They expect to ride starting from Mexico cross the border in Brownsville, Texas and continue to Washington DC where all the routes meet together. |
| Issues Addressed |
Education for sustainable development. |
| Results Achieved |
Bike-Aid includes international partner riders each year who come to the United States and spend the summer riding with the young participants from all over the US. The direct education and networking benefits have led to collaborations on other projects and volunteer exchanges with the partner organizations. Bike-Aid has also been a model for similar education rides in Mexico, Africa, Cuba, the Philippines and potentially in Bolivia as well. In the US Bike-Aid participants have met with their congressional at the end of each ride and shared their perspectives and ideas. Past rides have focused on specific legislature that was pending during the year of the ride. Every year the Bike-Aid staff informs the participants about relevant bills and helps them to "lobby" so that their experiences can help shape their representative's decisions. |
| Lessons Learned |
Bike-Aid participants become very active in their communities and often work directly in social and economic justice fields throughout their professional and personal lives. The experiential part of the education is the most useful tool for sustained involvement. The building of the community on wheels and the empowerment received by completing a task thought impossible by many are skills used by the riders to inspire others to act in their own communities. It is important to foster the development of the group with leadership training and support along the route. The network of hosts is a crucial element to the success of the ride. Long-term relationships are developed and cultivated and the information exchange is invaluable. In addition, the financial success of the ride depends on the generosity of the hosts providing free accommodations and sometimes feeding the cyclists. |
| Contacts |
Bike-Aid |