Sustainable mobility, sustainable community

CONTEXT We have devised a project to improve social inclusion, intergenerational relationships, sustainable community, youth empowerment and community building. 5 entities have participated in this project: A youth association: LAG Suduva, Lithuania A high school: IES Alhama, Corella, Navarra Two cycling-promotion associations: Biciclistas de Corella (Spain) and Frie Fugle (Denmark) An environment and sustainable mobility association: An Taisce/Green Schools (Ireland) We planned to organize 6 LTTs (Learning/Training/Teaching activities) in the 4 countries to address the horizontal priorities of our project. In the meantime, we’ve worked with young and old volunteers with a diverse background (Erasmus ambassadors) so that they learn to collaborate, organize activities and solve problems together ACTIVITIES Cycling Without Age (CWA) rides: we have done 269 rides with our special tricycles (we call them “yayacletas”) with elders and people with mental and physical disabilities: https://biciclistas.es/en-bici-sin-edad-CWA pilot-training courses: we attended one in Zaragoza in October 2018 and, afterwards, we have organized 8 courses in Corella, with more than 70 people trained CWA chapters: we have helped create other chapters (groups who give rides to elders with tricycles) in Santander and several villages in Navarra: Viana, Estella, Aoiz, Burguete and Zizur Mayor New walking and cycling trails in Lithuania (Kazlu Ruda) and Spain (Corella) with information boards to explain the signposted routes Sustainable mobility campaigns and workshops in all the countries, with countless activities: metrominuto, bike rides, do-it-yourself bike repair workshops, etc. Social inclusion activities: multicultural markets, fundraisers… Community building and environment activities: planting trees, clean-ups, sandwich wrappers to avoid foil and plastic, bike trips, metrominuto Erasmus Park: nature classroom, three staircases, 60 trees planted, two insect hotels Blog: all the previous activities have been disseminated through a very active and participative blog, that has reached 352 entries in 40 months: https://iesalhama.educacion.navarra.es/web1/erasmus/ Presentation of our project in VeloCity conference (Dublin, June 2019), the most important worldwide 11 presentations in Vilnius conference about sustainable mobility and social inclusion Countless ambassadors activities: bike room, donated bikes campaign, Erasmus boards… OBJECTIVES Help youngsters with academic, economic and social problems become active citizens through sustainable mobility and community building initiatives Foster cooperation between volunteers with a diverse background to contribute to social inclusion, empowerment and sense of belonging and to improve teamwork and empathy Improve intergenerational relationships by starting "Cycling Without Age" (CWA) chapters, pilot-training courses and presentations. This international movement (CWA) offers the opportunity to bring elders and kids together and turns the experience into a win-win event. Share ideas and measures to promote sustainable mobility, intergenerational relationships, social inclusion and equity in schools and communities in other countries Become familiar with the structure, organization and funding methods of cycling and youth associations in other countries Establish contact with local authorities to learn about sustainable mobility and community building Encourage and help students to become the architects of the project by contacting pupils from other schools, submitting proposals and contributing to making an impact as regards sustainable mobility NUMBER AND PROFILE OF PARTICIPANTS Youngsters: students aged 14-18 and volunteers in cycling and youth associations. Adults: teachers, cycling and youth association members. Elders: senior members of all the associations and elders who were given 269 rides with CWA tricycles. 40-50 people have been actively involved in every country (100 in Spain), 250 overall. Hundreds of people from the schools and communities have benefited from the project activities. Thousands have followed our progress through blog, websites, traditional and social media LEARNING/TEACHING/TRAINING ACTIVITIES: LTTs have been trips to enhance the project at all levels: we've organized only four trips (out of six) due to Covid-19 restrictions METHODOLOGY We've proposed a very engaging and participative methodology where common goals, creativity and community building inspire participants and partners to achieve the project objectives Most activities have been volunteer- and student-led. Sustainable ambassadors have had a very active role from the beginning: their ideas have been discussed and implemented in schools, local associations and city councils.The students who participated in the project didn't miss any lessons as our meetings took place at break time and our activities have been organized in the evening and, mostly, on weekends and holidays.