Alexis, Florent and Tommy never thought they would participate in such an operation. And yet, on board a Peugeot 205 (which is obviously not the first youngster) without air conditioning, these three Arts et Métiers students will leave Mulhouse on August 2 and travel 8,000 kilometers through more than 20 countries (Italy, Greece, Balkans). This 22-day adventure is called Europ’Raid, and it is together with 250 teams of three, from all over France, that these students will experience it.
The raid invites participants to go from Western to Eastern Europe, stopover in 23 partner cities and transport 70 kg of school, sports and medical equipment and 5 kg of rice to disadvantaged schools in Europe.
The event was established in 2014 in France and has already attracted more than 800 crews and 2,400 participants from France, Belgium, Spain and Poland.
The three companions will therefore drive 8 hours a day and sleep in the evening in bivouacs in areas intended for this purpose.
To participate in this odyssey, the team had to buy and repair their 205 and contact sponsors such as Norauto, their mechanical parts supplier, to finance part of the trip. In total, they managed to raise 5,500 euros, which almost covers the costs of their participation, which amounts to 8,000 euros (for the purchase and repair of the car, registration).
The organizers will finance their campsites, car assistance in the event of a breakdown and half-board.
Mutual aid and brotherhood
If they participated, it is primarily because these young engineers are passionate about mechanics and the spirit of the raid. “I like this idea of mutual help between participants, discovering Europe, sharing strong moments and helping people in need”confides Alexis.
“We wanted to participate in an operation that had a sense of brotherhood, humanitarianism, that’s what attracted me to this trip.”says Florent.
As for the carbon footprint of their journey, Florent, Alexis and Tommy had to calculate it. The organizers also encourage participants to respect a certain number of rules listed in the event’s environmentally responsible charter.
“Waste management and sorting, water conservation, ecological driving… This charter aims to raise awareness and encourage each participant and each organizer to limit their impact on the environment. Actions are also carried out throughout the adventure to contribute to the preservation of the nature”remember the latter.
To offset their carbon footprint, the herds are encouraged to participate in a tree planting operation in collaboration with a French solidarity horticulture. Each crew contributes to planting three trees.
