Pump Track Construction during escalation of Israel-Gaza conflict
In May 2021, Pump for Peace travelled to the Middle East with the mission to introduce four Israeli youth villages to the sport of cycling. Initially, a youth village was a boarding school model developed in Mandate Palestine in the 1930s to care for groups of children and teenagers fleeing the Nazis. Today, the 30 villages across Israel are often the stepping stone to a better life for children and teenagers from underprivileged neighbourhoods.
During construction, the team lead by Claudio Caluori had been surprised by an escalation of the Israel-Gaza conflict. Despite hundreds of missiles and resulting closures of most asphalt plants, the construction crew managed to complete the track during the crisis. None of the international Pump for Peace crew members nor the local helpers were injured, but the build was definitely one of the toughest in pump track history.
Now, the pump track is accessible at all hours of the day, year-round – even when it’s impossible to ride trails outside the village. The track brings a strengthening, educational and fun routine into the lives of the youth.
Besides Ayanot, following Israeli Youth Villages will be receiving a Velosolutions Pump Track:
- Ramat Hadassa Youth Village
- Ben Shemen Youth Village
- Aloney Yitzhak Youth Village
A few years back, when we were sitting at the world cup in Fort William with the Gstaad-Scott team (later Scott-Velosolutions), we had this idea of taking Velosolutions Pump Tracks to sketchy places. Knowing that this is where the kids need them the most. Learning that there are other things in live than war. Knowing that people can have fun together no matter where they come from or what God they believe in.
Soon after, we had the chance to place the first Pump for Peace track in Lesotho, Africa. The result was overwhelming and we now have kids from Lesotho competing in the @redbullpumptrackworlds
A few months ago, the Israeli Enduro Rider @nogakorem has introduced me to the people of the @bartali_youthfoundation, which shares the same believes as we do: Get the kids together on a pump track, introduce them to the sport of cycling, make no difference if you’re coming from the Israeli or the Arab side. The two tracks that we are building at the moment are only a start. The clear goal is to also enter the West Bank and, at some point, Gaza.
During the last two days, the area we’re in has turned into exactly one of those sketchy areas that I saw in front of my eyes when I imagined Pump for Peace on that first night in Fort William. Despite hearing many explosions around us, we have finished laying asphalt on the first track yesterday.
Last night, we were under massive attack, hiding in the basement, not sleeping due to missiles, defense fires and sirenes.
I’m not scared. I know this is the place I’m supposed to be. Right here and right now. However, I do appreciate that everyone feels very different about this situation. This is why we’re now taking the team to a safe place to reassess what our plan is for the upcoming days. We’re currently not sure if we can finish the second track. It all depends if the war escalates or if it calms down.
Peace and Love!
Barthali Youth in Movement
The foundation has been inspired by the incredible story of Gino Bartali, the Italian cycling legend who was awarded as “Righteous among the Nations” for his heroic deeds to help save the lives of hundreds of Jews during the Holocaust: Bartali Youth in Movement, leverages the unique passion of youth for cycling and outdoor adventures, as a tool to develop resilience and social responsibility and to create connections between youth from all walks of Israeli society.
The organisation is building a nationwide network of cycling centres for youth in boarding facilities, youth villages, and community centres all over Israel. The students who live at the youth villages year-long are coming from different backgrounds and multiple religions, including Jews, Druze, Muslims and Christian Arabs. Despite the various obstacles of Covid-19 pandemic, the organisation that was established in 2018, had managed to grow its activity and double the numbers in the passing year. Today they run 17 groups with some over 180 youth (25% of whom are girls!) at the various centres.
Succesful Fundraising Campaign
Bartali – Youth in Movement and the 4 youth villages have been promoting a special fund-raising campaign. The purpose was to raise the necessary funds to complete the building of the 4 pump tracks and to use them as means of operating educational cycling programs for the youngsters who live in these villages. Within only a week, an incredible amount of 1,300,742 Israeli Shekel have been raised, which equals roughly 400 000 US$. Check out the full story here.
