CAMBODIA, THAILAND and VIETNAM – May 31, 2023

From 15th May to 21st May, countries around the world joined forces for the 7th Annual Global Road Safety Week (UNGRSW). Under the theme of #RethinkMobility, the international community called on policy- and decision-makers to make walking, cycling, and public transport safe and convenient, especially for vulnerable road users like youth, so that cities can shift to more active and sustainable modes of mobility.

AIP Foundation participated in and led several events to support and advocate for safer mobility as part of UNGRSW. In Cambodia, factory workers spoke up for their right to safe mobility on their way to work by pledging their support for the 7th UNGRSW campaign. At the same time, students in Vietnam encouraged decision-makers to switch to green mobility options through a Community Bike Day 2023. In Thailand, students volunteered to #RethinkMobility with local government officials to make their school zone safer by directly identifying risks in their school zones and letting the decision-makers know.

Engaging local students to raise their voices for green mobility in Vietnam

The Community Bike Day 2023 kick-started safe and sustainable mobility-promoting activities, leading to the 7th UN Global Road Safety Week 2023. This event brought together over 1000 community members to speak up for safe mobility and take action for greener streets across their city. Since the beginning of 2023, AIP Foundation has been hosting bicycle safety training sessions across 19 project schools in Pleiku City to equip 18,117 students with knowledge of safe cycling practices.

“The Pleiku People’s Committee is very proud to host this Community Bike Day. Our community is made up of the people within it, and we must all work together to protect our planet. This is our shared home and today is an opportunity to bring about change for a greener and cleaner future,” shared Mr Do Viet Hung, Chairman of Pleiku People’s Committee.

Celebrating safe school zones with students and partners in Thailand

Secondary school students of Songkhla Satun, Thailand, joined the international community not only in demanding #StreetsForLife but also in urging decision-makers to #RethinkMobility. One hundred volunteer students were present at the event and led road safety activities. The students form part of the Student Council and were responsible for delivering the key messages of safe mobility to their peers and community. Prior to the road safety day, students had analyzed the high-risk areas around the school and told decision-makers what actions needed to be taken to fix them.

Factory and garment workers in Cambodia demand safe commutes

As part of the ongoing commuting safety programs at AIP Foundation, factory workers in Kandal, Kampong Speu, and Svay Rieng Provinces spoke up for safe mobility and commutes. Throughout May, the factory workers attended the Drivers Training and the Review and Reflection Meetings as part of the Commuting Safety for Cambodian Workers and the Prevention and Participation program. Speak Up Champions at the factories spoke directly with the drivers of the factory workers to promote safer collective vehicles and safety for pedestrians.

Please click here to watch Piseth Im, our Program Manager explain the necessity for safe commutes during the 7th UNGRSW 2023.

A global storm to #RethinkMobility

Our very own colleagues from AIP Foundation in Ho Chi Minh City, Dat Truong, Program Assistant, Fatou Jallow, Development Coordinator, and Jimmy Tang, Chief of Staff, also shared their visions and dreams for a safer and greener environment as part of the global Twitter Storm hosted by the Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety. Together during the one-hour Twitter storm, we raised our voices with our friends and partners through over 1,200 posts, a projected reach of 774,000, and 6 million projected impressions!

While the campaigns around the world wrap up for the 7th UN Global Road Safety Week, we know that our work as an NGO does not stop here. Our time to #RethinkMobility on a global scale is only just starting now.

Useful links and further information:

– To read more about our UNGRSW activities in Thailand, please click here.

– To read more about our UNGRSW activities in Vietnam, please click here.

– To see more photos of our UNGRSW activities, please click here.

– To read more about the UNGRSW from the World Health Organization, please click here.