Pupils from Rosa Parks college in Rennes have undertaken a crazy challenge — cycling all the way to join the crew of Team Jolokia at Lorient. On Monday, May 12th, eighteen students from 5th SEGPA learning difficulties group, and students in the ULIS programme for physical handicap departed for a ride of 150 kilometres, divided into three easy steps, stopping at Guipry, Pontivy and Hennebont. They arrived on Thursday 15th May in Lorient, in the late morning at the Eric Tabarly Sailing Centre. The goal was to experience a human adventure, in the same vein as Team Jolokia, including lots of pupils who don’t even ride regularly. They had to learn and practice, just as novices in the sailing crew do!
They got the chance to meet some of the crew and take a tour of the boat. The crew were seriously impressed by their performance!
TV clip, France 3 May 12: http://bretagne.france3.fr/emissions/jt-1920-bretagne (25 mins)
TV clip, TV Rennes: http://www.tvrennes35bretagne.fr/programmes/tvr-soir-le-jt-1399919400 (5 mins)
The pupils and their accompanying team arrived just when an initial assessment was being carried out by the Riches de Nos Differences committee which unites the Academy of Rennes, the Eric Tabarly Sailing Centre and Team Jolokia. Throughout a day of exchanges and sharing ideas, the educational teams were accompanied by Pete Stone, diversity consultant for many major French companies and a member of the Team Jolokia Social Laboratory.