By Benjamin Parent, Rotaract Club of Cannes Riviera, France —
It all started with a dream and a question. I had tucked away in my mind for years a dream of cycling around the world. A series of questions pushed me to take the leap and pursue my dream: What does sustainable development really mean? How can an organization combine financial viability with a positive impact on life? How can we support a new generation of entrepreneurs to build purpose-driven businesses while making a living doing it? And how can I personally contribute to a more positive impact on life?
I wanted to see things for myself and try to answer these questions. That’s how Trees on the Way was born. It’s a trip around the world on bicycle where I will meet committed entrepreneurs and inspiring changemakers and discover best practices and solutions from these people who have devoted their energy to helping others. To go further, the trip will also promote the planting of trees.
For every 21 kilometers I cycle, a tree will be planted back in a damaged area of France. If each of us planted enough trees throughout our lifetime, it could make a significant impact on offsetting CO₂ emissions, combating deforestation, and restoring ecosystems. Planting a tree is an act of hope. As American poet and teacher Lucy Larcom once said: “He who plants a tree, plants a hope.”
Read Full Article: https://blog.rotary.org/2025/04/08/round-the-world-cycling-journey-plants-trees/
