Youth4Planet

In the heart of Europe, Luxembourg, with its cultural wealth and diversity, is the stage for an innovative initiative aimed at connecting citizens, promoting local sustainability, and stimulating collective action. Julien Lemmer Veloso, a student, and Semion Smolenskiy, a bachelor, who make up the Climate Action Team (CAT) of the CreatiVelo Earthbeat Luxembourg Tour, immerse us in this courageous adventure, where the bicycle becomes a catalyst, pollinator, and vector of change and sharing.

The concept is simple but powerful: capturing the inspiring stories of these local initiatives to share them through videos, and thus catalyzing civic engagement and surpassing the limits of social circles.

In a society where divisions are becoming increasingly apparent, where people find themselves trapped in their own circles, the importance of dialogue and collaboration becomes crucial.

"In society, we have many social bubbles, with people who would never meet under normal circumstances, " emphasizes Semion. It is in this context that the CreatiVelo takes on its full meaning, serving as a collector of stories, a place for debates, and a breaker of social bubbles.

After a successful first tour in the summer of 2023, where more than 30 change-makers were visited, Youth4Planet, the NGO behind CreatiVelo, is preparing to intensify its action. "Now, we aim to intensify things by creating many Climate Action Teams (CAT) that travel across the country, raising awareness among people about specific issues and motivating them to take action, " says Semion.
After a successful pilot project in India, it is time to bring this inspiring initiative back to Luxembourg.

But the path to change is not without obstacles. During their tour in Luxembourg, the CAT had to face technical challenges and unforeseen problems that tested their determination. "At first, our bike wasn't completely waterproof, and our television had some issues turning on, " Julien recounts. However, these obstacles have been overcome thanks to the ingenuity and resilience of the team.

Despite these challenges, there is no shortage of moments of satisfaction and accomplishment: "The most beautiful moment happened when we managed to connect a young cyclist with a local NGO at a youth market stand, " recalls Semion. A simple video has managed to break the social bubble and unite like-minded people, illustrating the power of CreatiVelo.

Long-term, the goal of CreatiVelo is clear: to bring together people with common interests, raise awareness about sustainable projects, and empower young people through Climate Action Teams.

The project's motto, "Touring with CreatiVelo connecting the best of sustainability in Luxembourg, " perfectly sums up the essence of this initiative. CreatiVelo's message is clear: for a sustainable future, we must act collectively and break social circles, as this concerns us all.