Silk road by bike

1. Silk road by bike Presentation of the Silk Road by bike project

2. Agenda • About us • The trip – motives and route • Background of the project • Mission and Objectives • How *your company* can participate • Promotion, publicity and benefits • What we give back

3. About us Jean Frédéric Gauvin French engineer and mountain climber Ricard Salevik Swedish analyst and long distance bicycler

4. The Idea • Raising funds for the project ”Youth Entrepreneurship Support (YES)” in Tajikistan • Bicycle from Oslo to China, travelling through Eastern Europe and then following the old Silk Road to Beijing

5. The bike trip – why? Fun? You go to encounter the protean shapes of faith. You go because you are still young and crave excitement; you go because you are old and need to understand something before it’s too late. You go to see what will happen. Colin Thubron Understanding? Challenge? Insight? Adventure? Encountering new cultures?

6. Oslo - Istanbul • 4000 km from Oslo to Istanbul • From March – May, so it’s going to be cold

7. Istanbul - China • 6000 km from Istanbul until we cross the Chinese border • From mid-May until mid september • Follow the Silk Road

8. The road on the roof of the world Over 5000 meters above sea level On the border between Tadjikistan and Afghanistan Pamir Highway

9. Istanbul - China

10. China • 6000 km through China • From mid-September to December

11. Background • We wanted to do something more than just bike – to use the publicity around our trip to give something back to the society • We wanted to work with an organization that’s established and solid, but still small enough that we could be hands-on and in contact with the decisionmakers • We strongly believe in the economical empowerment of young entrepreneurs. We want to raise funds to help the new generation that have the will to develop their own country but  have neither the knowledge nor the funds • We found out that Eurasia Foundation Central Asia and our project, YES, fulfilled all our criterias.

12. The project YES • Helping young people in Central Asia to become entrepreneurs • Train young people in the fundamentals of business, then give each of the trainees a small sum of money and enough equipment and materials to start their own businesses.

13. The Implementer: EFCA • Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia (EFCA) is a non-profit organization to support local initiatives in civic engagement, private enterprise, education and public administration. • Based in Kasakhstan, Kirgisistan and Tadsjikistan • Mission: Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia mobilizes public and private resources to help citizens participate in building their future by strengthening their communities and improving their civic and economic wellbeing. • EFCA is governed by an international board of trustees and is supported by governments (incl. the Norwegian), foundations, corporations, intergovernmental organizations, universities and individuals

14. About the situation in Tajikistan • Based in Central Asia • Same size as Portugal, with 7,5 million people living there • Two-thirds of people live in poverty • 1992-97 civil war damaged already inadequate infrastructure • Limited opportunities feed brain drain

15. About the project YES • Raise funds to be able to help young entrepreneurs to start up their own business in Tajikisistan • EFCA will train them in running a business, support them with funds to be able to get started and follow up their business over time • Previous similar projects have been very successful • No personal financial benefits for us and no administrative costs from EFCA will assure that all funds will reach its target • We will participate on spot with our knowledge about project management, and follow up the project personal. We will also document the effects of the project.

16. The Project: Yes • Issue tender to rural CBOs (communitybased organisations) to develop youth entrepreneurship projects • Downselect to 15-20 semi-finalists • Conduct project-design seminar • Evaluate final proposals and fund finalists • # of Silk-Road funded depends on amount raised • One project costs $ 10.000 • Monitor financial and program performance, and provide ongoing consultation • Mini-evaluations at project close

17. How we promote? • Home page – www.silkroadbybike.com with a blog – mainly in english and / or norwegian • Group on Facebook – Silk Road by bike • Working on establishing cooperation with media (online newspapers) • Working on establishing cooperation with media (radio - NRK) • A fund-raising event before we leave

18. Possible packages • Package 1 – Basic • Logo and text on the webpage under the sponsor section • Documentation of the effects of the project (final report) • Cost: 1.600 NOK (or 10 øre pr km we are biking) • Package 2 – Promotion • - Logo and on the webpage under the sponsor section • Logo on our clothings • Documentation of the effects of the project (final report) • Cost:8.000 NOK (or 0,5 NOK/km we are biking)

19. Possible packages • Package 3 – Involvement We will offer: • 1-2 hours personal presentation of our project • Logo on the webpage under the sponsor section • Logo on our clothings • Documentation of the effects of the project (final report) In addition will EFCA: • list donors in annual report • publish story on website citing donors • conduct press conference, issue release recognizing donors Cost: 25.000 (half a project)

20. Possible packages • Package 4 – Project owner We will offer: • The same as package 3, but you will support a complete project, be able to participate in choosing the project, • You will also get a complete personal feedback from your specific project • Possibilities for getting in touch with the active people on the project Cost: 50.000

21. So why support us? • It’s an important, sustainable project with a solid organisation that targets young people in an area that highly needs it • No economical leakages – every single $ will reach its target – the project. • Internal marketing for you – the emploees can follow the investment over time from our blogs • Full presentation of the trip and the project adjusted to your companies needs and interests • Possibilities for good external marketing

22. YES – WE CAN DO IT! • Do you want to join us for the ride?