Eleanor McAll
The Right to Movement Cycle Ride
Fundraising for Amos Trust
Story
Thankyou for visiting our JustGiving Fundraising Page.
Our Story
After spending a rich and inspiring month in the West Bank and Israel; meeting all sorts of people, visiting communities and grassroots projects and witnessing the challenges people face on a daily basis, we felt passionate about the situation and energised to act. We were planning on cycling back to the UK afterwards, which to us is such a freeing thing to do. We felt it was a stark contrast to the freedoms of people in the occupied Palestinian territories. That it why we decided to use it to raise awareness and funds for a project.
The Right to Movement
We will cycle over 3000 miles through 15 countries with largely open borders, and are unlikely to run into problems, other than perhaps being saddlesore and sunburnt.
Freedom of movement for Palestinians on the other hand is very restricted. Many children have never seen the sea (which at points is just 10 miles away), as they are unable to cross the 723km long wall. To travel from north to south of the West Bank, Jenin to Al Dahriya, involves passing through 7 Israeli military checkpoints. In total, 522 permanent obstacles limit Palestinian movement.
Where they can go depends on their ID, whether they have a permit, which city they belong to, or who they are married to.
The Fundraising Project
The Fundraising Project
We visited a village of 600 people, completely encircled by Israeli settlements. Life here is difficult due to various imposed restrictions. Children are not receiving high school education as this would involve traveling through the settlements, which they are often afraid to do. There is no public transport, apart from settler buses which they are forbidden from using, and taxis are expensive. The village leader highlighted how a mini-bus would enable children to travel to a high school and continue their education.
We decided to work with the Amos Trust to raise money to set up a bus service for this village, also reaching other marginalised villages in the south Bethlehem district.
We decided to work with the Amos Trust to raise money to set up a bus service for this village, also reaching other marginalised villages in the south Bethlehem district.
We aimed to raise 80-100,000 New Israeli Shekels (£15-20,000) for the project.
- Up to £8,000 from our cycle ride
- £12,000+ from trusts/foundations and other donors.
- Up to £8,000 from our cycle ride
- £12,000+ from trusts/foundations and other donors.
PLEASE NOTE: Working out the exact budget cost is an ongoing process, as we also want to ensure the project is sustainable and the running costs are covered for the first 2-3 years.
If the target amount is not achieved we could alternatively support a high school teacher working in the village for a year for an approximate sum of £4,800.
We would greatly appreciate it if you could tell friend and foe, far and wide about our ride! Do get in touch if you would like further details about this project, or follow us on facebook (Right to Movement Cycle Ride) or twitter (@RıghttoCycle).
We would greatly appreciate it if you could tell friend and foe, far and wide about our ride! Do get in touch if you would like further details about this project, or follow us on facebook (Right to Movement Cycle Ride) or twitter (@RıghttoCycle).
Much love and pedal power for a free Palestine,
Ellie and Robin.
Ellie and Robin.