Latest update April 4th, 2025 12:14 AM
Eco-travellers find Guyanese hospitality refreshing
…impressed with Jagdeo’s LCDS
With the world recognising the need to reduce their carbon footprint, to play their part, two young men embarked on a remarkable journey that has taken them across scores of countries and at least three continents with no cash.
The trip started this year, initially with three persons, but the two who have stayed on are 26 year-old Raphael Fellmer of Berlin Germany and 25 year-old Benjamin Lesage of France.
Raphael Fellmer (left) and Benjamin Lesage as they made their way to Georgetown hitching a ride at the back of a truck
The trip is documented on their website (www.forwardtherevolution.net) which is updated whenever they get an opportunity.
The two met at The Hague University in the Netherlands four years ago and their passion for helping and assisting, and living a “green” life has cause them to embark on the mission.
“We realised that we could make a change and we held a workshop…The workshop is held under the theme ‘A Better World Is Possible, Do You Want To Be A Part Of It?’”
It was explained that the workshop was such an inspiration that they were invited to do a session on International Students Day at The Hague.
Realising that much more could not be achieved by simply holding workshops in Europe, they decided to travel initially to Mexico and practice what they preach in the true sense of the word, making the journey just through the kindness of people.
“Our dream is a world with social justice…harmony with mother earth…with all as brothers and sisters,” said Fellmer.
The idea, they said, was to take a different road to Mexico and not use an airplane, which is one source of significant pollutants.
“As environmentalists, we try to behave in a most environmentally friendly way.”
The environmentalists started their trip in January this year from The Hague.
All that the duo is travelling with is solar power backpacks, which charges the camera they use to document the trip, a few bits of clothing, sleeping bags and some other essentials such as toothpaste and brushes among others.
One of the most important things the team travels with is a life-saver bottle, which filters water so that it is drinkable.
Salted water is not filtered however and they use tap water and fresh water from streams as well as rain.
The team explained that they covered Belgium, France, Spain, and from that country they travelled by way of a ship to Morroco in Africa.
“We enjoyed the hospitable Muslim people there and we were overwhelmed with the warmth.”
They then travelled south to reach the Canary Islands, which they explained was akin to a hub for ships.
After waiting at the Canary Islands for some time, the duo said that they met a lovely Italian couple, who agreed to bring them to Brazil and they have been hitchhiking their way across South America.
They said that while Mexico is a goal post, they are drifting
“Wherever the wind blows.”
The two young men said that they have passed through Suriname and French Guiana but Guyana is a refreshing surprise.
They said that while the other two Guiana’s have still held on to most of the European links, Guyana is different and is a literal melting pot of diversity with all of the different races, cultures and religions, yet there is a healthy respect for each other.
He said that Guyanese are remarkably hospitable people and are interested in the story that they had to tell.
When told about President’s Bharrat Jagdeo push for the Low Carbon Development Strategy and all that it entails, given their lifestyle, they were very impressed and wished that all and sundry could adopt such an approach in their countries.
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