In 16 days, April 1, 2017, I start the SILENT HEROES journey that will push me beyond the boundaries of my country, my comfort and my climate. Am I nervous? YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!!!
I will travel a great distance, paddling 5,400 km of coastline and inland channels from Oslo to Athens.
I will be alone. I will be isolated. I will be displaced. I will - for the first time in my life - experience what it means to be truly alone. I will experience isolation.
Today, one in every 113 people worldwide is displaced. Over 60 million people are forced from their homes by conflict and persecution.
Isolation is a sad, bad thing.
Due to sickness, religion, sexuality, religion or conflict, people find themselves isolated from others. They become islands: by oneself, alone.
Islands are only connected with bridges.
Each person, including myself, needs to be that someone who takes the initiative to intervene on behalf of another, to join the two spaces, places, or link two worlds together.
We are the bridges. We play a unique role in building bridges, one piece at a time. Small actions of caring work.
“The willingness of nations to work together not just for refugees but for the collective human interest is what’s being tested today, and it’s this spirit of unity that badly needs to prevail.” - UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi.
