I imagine it's common for people to take for granted their idyllic childhoods, and have to leave that place before coming to understand their good fortune. Now that I have travelled, I appreciate more than ever the sense of safety, security, freedom to roam, and the intimate caring community that is Bowen Island.
Perhaps it was because of this privileged childhood that I became interested in international development. After high school, I studied political science at the University of Victoria and that in turn led me to a Vancouver based organization called Global Agents. They are a youth-run organization that supports sustainable solutions to global poverty.
In 2009, I signed up to take part in their annual fundraising campaign called Riding to Break the Cycle. Each summer Global Agents organize international bike tours that engage youth with social change and help raise money for projects looking to break the cycle of poverty in the developing world. We have tours to Ecuador, Europe, Cambodia, and the Pacific Coast.
Some of you may remember the concert that I hosted at the BICS gym in 2009. We had local artists Shari Ulrich, Barney Bentall, and Tom Taylor perform, as well as the Vancouver band Headwater. It was huge success, raising $5000 to support developing world entrepreneurs, and I owe this success to the generosity of this community. I ended up breaking a record at the organization for most raised by a single participant, and that record still stands today!
As a group of 18 cyclists, we raised over $70,000 before embarking on a nine-week cycling tour from Amsterdam to Istanbul. It was an empowering adventure instilling in me a sense of accomplishment that continues to inspire me to this day.
It is sometimes difficult to describe just how phenomenal the experience was, but it was definitely a unique and life-changing opportunity. We travelled on the back roads of Europe, stayed with local hosts, and met with all sort of inspiring local organizations. We made lifelong friends, got in incredible shape, and came to realize that if we could cycle across a continent we could do anything.
It was with this newfound confidence that I got involved in the organization post-tour. For two years I worked as a volunteer in the planning and implementation of the bike tours, and in the summer of 2011 I was hired by Global Agents to run the Riding to Break the Cycle program.
I will be going back to Europe this summer with another team and there is room for a few more riders. I thought I would reach out to my Bowen community to see if there is any interest in the opportunity. You don't need cycling experience or fundraising experience, or even travel experience. You just need a desire to make a difference in the world and the courage to take on this epic adventure. I will be hosting an information session at Collins Hall on March 19 at 7 p.m. and I will be sharing pictures from some of the tours and talking about how you can get involved. Riders are typically aged 18 to 30 although we are somewhat flexible on the high side. Riders and parents of potential riders are welcome to come along. If you can't make the information session but want to know more, you can also email me at [email protected].
Jake Moir
