An Taisce’s Green-Schools Travel programme will partner with Cyclist.ie (Irish Cycling Advocacy Network), to host the EU Erasmus+ Project: Sustainable Mobility, Sustainable Community in Ireland. The three-year project will see 25 students from four European countries collaborate to promote cycling, social inclusion and youth empowerment.

Corella, Spain, will host the initial cultural exchange experience in March 2019, welcoming project participants from Ireland, Copenhagen and Lithuania. The aim of the exchange is to form intergenerational relationships and enhance social inclusion through sustainable mobility in the community. Through a combination of workshops, cycling trips and learning experiences around active travel, students will be empowered to lead positive change relating to sustainable mobility in their own communities. The four EU Erasmus+ countries will participate in an eTwinning school programme during the three-year project and the success of their campaign will be showcased on a collaborative blog.   

Nine students and cycling advocates from Ireland will participate in the Erasmus+ Project. Five students and one teacher from St. Tiernan’s Community School, Balally, will join An Taisce’s Green-Schools Travel Manager Jane Hackett and National Cycling Coordinator, Dr. Damien Ó Tuama from Cyclist.ie for the initiative.

Ireland will host the second cultural exchange in Dublin for one week in June 2019. During the visit the group will participate in much of the same community and cycling mobility activities including attending the widely anticipated international Velo-City Cycling Conference.

Green-Schools Travel Manager Jane Hackett stated:

Green-Schools are delighted to be involved in the Erasmus+ project as it gives students the opportunity to learn from each other and share their experiences of sustainable travel. It is hoped that participating students will become ambassadors for cycling both in their school and the wider community. It is important to share ideas, connect with other cyclists so that we can address any barriers we face when it comes to promoting cycling to students, teachers and parents.

Copenhagen will host an exchange with the same participants in October of the 2019/2020 academic year, followed by a trip to Lithuania in 2020.

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