The Otesha Project

Program Reviews

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LK
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The Otesha Project's Sustainability & Social Justice Bike Tours

-was a thrill the whole way through with lots of fun challenges, including practicing consensus decision making many times daily with a brand new group of people, cooking big meals for the group on camping stoves, rehearsing, memorizing, and staging a play in less than a week
-some highlights were: experiencing the generosity of people in communities along the way who welcomed us with open arms and gave us so much love and support, plus often also food, showers, laundry; connecting with youth who were inspired by the play or workshops to do an Otesha tour when they're a little bit older and at the very least start changing certain habits
-some challenges were: having to move locations almost everyday which involved cleaning up, packing everything up, and hitting the road again, even if you were pretty exhausted from the day before; long daily meetings to make group decisions - both of these became amazing learning points that fueled a lifetime of growth

What would you improve about this program?
-group sizes not larger than 13
-doing only workshops but not a play for the shorter tours
-extensive sensitivity training including, anti-oppression training and awareness of identity politics, as this will help bring awareness to what it means to be visiting communities with different socioeconomic, religious, cultural, etc. backgrounds than those on people on tour
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Tricia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

It literally changed my life.

It was amazing what we could accomplish in two months. A typical day would include cooking for your team (if your on food crew that day) packing up camp and cycling a few hours to a performance: acting radiculous on stage and inspiring students to create change. Then back on the bikes to travel to where you would sleep. Usually there is a team meeting where you get to hear the highs and lows of everyone. Lots of laughs, and lots of tears. Its an amazingly powerful experience. I consider my Otesha teammates and other alumni my family.

What would you improve about this program?
Reduce the number of performances so that teams could smell the roses at least a bit more.
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Kayla
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

life changin' experience

An amazing and inspiring experience as I cycled across British Columbia - while building community with my teammates - challenging my daily choices - preforming physical theatre - eating delicious food - being empowered myself and in turn empowering others - and accomplishing some physical feats!

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Bridget
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Love Otesha

Awesome experience - I became comfortable on my bike, learned new skills (like how to change my tires), had wonderful conversations and met amazing people!

What would you improve about this program?
More efficient meetings at the end of the day
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anonymous
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing experience

Everything about this tour was inspiring and challenging. I went on a tour that explored food systems in Ontario, and I learned so much from how to grow your own food, how farms work, and how cheese is made, to the day to day tasks like bike maintenance, living as a mobile community, cooking for large groups, facilitating, acting. It was such an empowering experience. I highly recommend it!