Are you looking for something challenging to do in January?
How about empowering youth about a sustainable future? Or riding around rural Australia
living sustainably and “being the change you want to see in the world”?

The Otesha Project (Australia):
Cycling for Sustainability is undergoing massive preparations for its upcoming
bicycle tour in rural Victoria starting in Melbourne on January 18th. The tour will ride along the Great Ocean Road,
up to the Grampians, making our way over to Bendigo
before finishing back to Melbourne
while speaking to youth about sustainability issues.

Since 2000, The
Otesha Project (Aus.) has pedalled across Australia educating youth and raising
awareness about environmental sustainability and social justice issues. Otesha is a Swahili word for 'reason
to dream' and is the underlining philosophy of the organisation. The Otesha
crew combines theatre performance with interactive workshops to empower high
school students to consider their life choices to ensure a positive future.

For Angela – co-director – the experience of the bicycle
tours is fulfilling on many different levels: “What I love about these tours is
that to me it is the perfect way to make a difference in the world; by being
inspired by others and inspiring youth in a hilarious and engaging way,” she
says.

Tour participants will travel around rural regions of Victoria and present the
comical Morning of Choices
presentation and engaging workshops to youth throughout the state. The
collective community works together to make all this possible by creating
workshops around issues they are passionate about, as well as helping to
organise school bookings and tour logistics prior to tour departure.

Interested in planning community events? Worried about your
knowledge about sustainability? Want to be part of a creative way of engaging
youth on these issues? Give it a try, that’s why the Victorian tour wants you
to apply!

The Otesha Project (Aus.) is seeking individuals from
varying walks of life – people with different experiences, backgrounds, and
interests to help us build a roving community. While on tour, participants not
only learn skills to become strong advocates to living sustainably, but also
develop skills such as media communication, leadership, acting, and communal
living.

“I’m constantly impressed with the diversity, support, and
excitement of tour members and the community for our initiatives. All of this
makes me hopeful for a positive future,” Angela says.

Applications for
the Victorian tour are pouring in so be sure to get your application in before
the deadline of September 19, 2008. For information about applying visit the
Otesha (Aust.) website at www.otesha.org.au/biketours/apply.