Hello fellow friends and family! I would like to proudly advise you I have decided to embark on a journey across the states for the next 5+ months of my life with 8 or 9 other companions....on our bicycles!
I know, it gets better. :)
Why am I doing this?---Why not...?
Starting in Jacksonville, Florida on January 6th we make our way to Texas, to California and then North to Seattle, Washington.
How did I find this? My dear friend Sara Pratt I work with at AustinDEEP, here in Austin, Texas stumbled upon a link ---> http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/opp1138415.jsp
Without any question she told me to "investigate"!
After a few days of avoiding it, I finally opened it up one night to see what it was. Immediately after reading a brief description of this event I was emailing Matt (the organizer/master mind behind this crazy idea)!
Now, here is the thing...we are not only riding across the country for weeks and weeks.
During this ride, Matt has planned and organized quite an amazing agenda which I have copied down below as to share with you what this adventure entails.
1. Working on service projects, speaking engagements, youth seminars, and local fundraisers with different communities we encounter throughout the ride.
2. The Young and Wild Curriculum
--has as its chief purpose to enlighten and empower its participants in a way that produces change in the worlds to which they’ll return. Given the unique state that the curriculum will be studied within, a unique approach will be implemented.
The YP has developed 5 core areas of study: Religion, Leadership, Economics/Business, Literature and Rhetoric. The 5 areas will systematically be studied over the course of five months. All areas will be studied for approximately 4 weeks. Local teachers will teach 1-2 lessons once per week, usually on the weekends. Small group discussions will be promoted throughout the day-to-day, but especially through small group meetings held at least once per week."
3. Local Not-For-Profit Organizations
The YP will partner with local non-profits in order to help them raise funds for a specific project they are working to complete. The expedition will make available to them: several basic fundraising event and methodology templates, consultation, publicity and volunteer man-power. Examples include Just Dig It, a youth-led NPO based in Central California that raises money for wells in Ghana; Restavec Freedom Alliance is an NPO also based in Central California that works with Haitians to restore their country since the earthquake; and Beautiful Response, an NPO in Central California that supports a school in Uganda. There are also myriad local causes we will work with local non-profits to accomplish, like the New Orleans-based Community Gardens or Urban Agriculture.
4. The Communities of Zambrano and Tegucigalpa, Honduras
The YP has officially partnered with Honduran NGO Case De Luz (House of Light) in order to accomplish the building of their newest children’s center in Tegucigalpa. In the short term, The YP will use its Young and Wild Expedition to raise funds for the building and to recruit Work and Service Teams to travel to Honduras to help build the building. Case De Luz works to feed, educate, and care for children aged 0-11 in the Tegucigalpa and Zambrano areas of Honduras. The new children’s center would allow the company to increase the amount of children it services from approximately 20 to approximately 75. That’s 55 more children in the Tegucigalpa area that get to eat 2 hot meals each day (an uncommon instance in most young Honduran lives) while they receive qualified intellectual instruction and personal care by educated Honduran women.
5. Personal Growth
Learning how to live on a very minimal budget ($5 a day). Camping, and riding in extreme conditions. Problem solving and bike maintenance. At the end of this 6K miles I have a feeling my American consumerism ways will be shaken.
Now here is where I ask for your help.
I am gathering gear and the money that will help me survive the next few months. Through working at AustinDEEP and generous help from my parents (that have always been supportive through the years, Thank you dearly mom and pop) I am hoping to be able to live semi-comfortably with security.
This is the beginning of my fundraising for Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
I have 35 days. I am setting a goal of $1,500, for now.
If you or anyone you may know would like to donate to the cause I would greatly appreciate the help.
Also, even if you cannot donate, I would LOVE for you to follow me on my journey through this blog, pictures, video, and facebook where I will keep you guys up to date on how everything is going!
If you would like to donate please contact me and we will figure out the best/easiest/safest way for you to contribute.
www.theyp.org
you can go directly to that site to find out more about who I am riding with
and donate there as well!
Thank you dearly for taking the time guys :)
35 days and counting.
Cheers!
Georgie
