Belarus Solidarity Cycling Expedition

  Belarus

Dates: August 1st to September 1st (3 periods of 11 days)

Description:
Wish to combine cycling/canoeing and berry picking with activism?
Become an social / environmental activist by participating to the Belarus Solidarity Cycling Expedition 2008.

Belarus, also referred to as "the last dictatorship of Europe", has one of the few centrally-planned economies left in the world. Although it became independent in 1991, its president still governs the country in a quite authoritarian way but thanks to several international initiatives the country is now slowly but surely opening to the world.

At the European Centre for Ecological and Agro Tourism (International NGO) we thus feel its our duty to support the population in this objective.

We are now recruiting volunteers for a bicycle/canoeing/berry picking expedition of 1500 km through the eco-corridors of Belarus, from the Polish to the Russian border. The route will be divided in 3 equal periods allowing you to sign up for one or more periods of 11 days.

You will be exploring this green, little visited country with preserved landscapes and remote communities by cycling together with Belarusian volunteers. By engaging in active contact with locals in Belarusian villages along the way we seek to express our solidarity in helping them maintain a healthy environment while working towards increasing the economic prosperity of a poor region.

Highlights: The plan is to evaluate the eco and agrotourism potential of the expedition route and to actively promote and attend 3 local village festivals which celebrate the unique culinary, craft, building traditions and pagan traditions of the region. We will pass by bicycle but also by canoe through preserved areas of Belarusian nature and little villages and cross two different areas where a local Agenda 21 (a UN initiative for sustainable development) is being developed by local committees.

Although rural tourism is still in its infancy in Belarus, its natural surroundings (the highest biodiversity in Europe!) and the hospitality of the population, offer plenty of growth possibilities for the near future.

This tour follows last year's successful Volunteering Solidarity Cycling Expedition 2007. Bikes are provided.

The tour starts in August! Join us now!

Cost in US$: 54 to 77 dollars a day (35 to 50 euros) + transport to reach destination

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to American, Canadian, European and Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Belarus Independently Or in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 14 expected

Application Process Involves:

• Other

European Centre for Ecological and Agro Tourism's Mission Statement: ECEAT is the leading European organisation in the field of small-scale sustainable tourism with a special attention to rural areas and organic farming. Our aims are to promote ecological holidays, responsible travel, and to develop projects all over the world for nature protection and sustainable tourism.

Year Founded: 1994