Toulouse. She will cross Africa by bike to raise awareness about the climate
Through Anthony Assemat
Published on
When young people say they want to take action for the climate, it’s not just in the streets or during demonstrations. To pay Alizée Mabilon, 26 years old, the climate deserves clear actions to raise awareness but above all, to make an impression. In April 2023 (between the 15th and 25th, the date has not yet been completely decided), the young Toulouse, president of the association Ride for climate change, which she created in September 2022, will undertake a tour of Africa by bicycle.
10,000 km in ten countries
On the program: 10,000 km and the crossing of ten countries on the east coast of the continent: the start of this extraordinary adventure will be in Ethiopia and will then move on to Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and an arrival in Cape Town, on the southern tip of Africa, in South Africa. On the way to the Africa of the Great Lakes! “I’m going six months. It’s the first time I’ve gone on an eco-adventure for so long,” rejoices Alizée.
A challenge “at the right time”
But the Toulousaine will not be at her first attempt at adventure. In her adventurer CV, she already has South America by backpack, Scandinavia by hitchhiking and (already) South Korea by bike. Alizée, who also launched in the capital the network of Green Gems around the initiatives on the ecological transition, a moment chosen to try this challenge.
“I have just finished my studies after four years at the Toulouse-1 Capitole University and a year at the Sorbonne in Paris, and to have the certificate of aptitude for the profession of lawyer. But I postponed my swearing because it was the right time to make this trip. The trigger came during a trip I made in the summer of 2022 to Vietnam, a country where people cycle a lot but where there are also a lot of pollution. Traveling by bike makes sense to me. It will be a personal adventure and a real commitment”.
On-site projects
During her journey, Alizée will meet African players in the circular economy and try to finance concrete projects around the ecological transition. “The trip will cost 10,000 euros and the objective is to reach 20,000 euros for the realization of these projects, including the construction of a Warka Tower, which transforms the air into drinking water”, specifies the Toulouse adventurer. Beach cleaning, plastic recycling, climate and sustainable mobility workshops in schools as well as sporting events will also be on the menu of this African journey.
Changing our image on Africa
Alizée Mabilon is sponsored by actors from Occitanie such as Arnaud bike in Toulouse, and Mondovélo Montpellier. A trip to a continent which, despite appearances and images of poverty or rudimentary life, undoubtedly has things to tell and show us about ecology.
“Africa is doing things, and is developing electric motorcycle taxis in particular. We have to stop thinking that Africa is always behind.”
A documentary for the return
The future lawyer intends to leave a trace of her trip. During these six months, she will make a documentary about her encounters and the memories she will bring back from this continent. “I am in contact with the Maison du Vélo, in Toulouse, to be able to distribute it on my return, I have to meet elected officials from Lyon and companies have already asked me to present feedback,” says Alizée.
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