Stories
Overview:
Educated in Quaker schools, serving in the US Peace Corps for two years in Guatemala, and working 25 years as a middle school counsellor with migrant Mexican children, I was deeply interested in basic human rights for all people. When I read a short article in the September, 2008 Adventure Cyclist Magazine about bike riding with a mission, entitled “Pedal for Peace” I knew I had to participate. The article described the “Follow the Women: Pedal for Peace” organization founded by Detta Regan, as an international bike ride with teams of women participating from all over the world in an effort to help raise awareness for women and children in the Middle East and help them to have a voice in the peace process.
Overview:
I have known Detta Regan since I was youth club member at 13 years old. I went on her first youth exchange in 1980 to Rotterdam aged 14 and on 10 other youth exchanges around Europe during the 80s. I then worked as a Youth Worker at her Community Centre for 13 years.
It all started over a phone with a good friend of mine “Fotouh Younis” – Country Coordinator in 2007. I was back then working as an Event Coordinator in a private company, I remember Fotouh was checking on me and how I was doing when she suddenly said calmly “what about going for a cycling ride from Lebanon to Jordan?”, she said the magical words, so I took my cell and went out of the office to know more details, then I said “YES”.
Overview:
I have been involved many Follow The Women bike rides and I have been the Country Coordinator for Italy in 2007, 2008 and 2009. I was born in Tripoli, Libia, North Africa and lived there until 1970, so my heart and lifeblood are very close to the people of the Middle East.