Through Africa to Break Stereotypes
Donation protected
Two Girls, Two Continents and TOO many stereotypes. Let’s break them together!
The Unexpected Expedition is a long-term project that aims at showing different, more up-to-date and mainly more positive side of Africa: its people, cultures, music, businesses, fashion, growth and other often overlooked topics. We - Ala and Ina - will travel overland from the southernmost point in Africa to the northernmost point in Europe and while doing so we will be talking and dancing, learning and asking but mainly listening to what people there want to share with you.
WHY WE ARE DOING THIS
- Because - why not? -
Both of us love meeting people; none of us likes ignorance. We admit that we are not ‘experts on Africa’ but we have spent over 5 years living, studying, volunteering and traveling in over 70 different countries, from which 15 are in Africa and we learnt one thing - there is no point talking about ‘African music’ 'African culture' or 'African attitude'. Africa is continent of 50+ countries and the differences among and even within the countries are enormous. In other words, could you compare Kosovo to Norway?
We are frustrated with the way many people in the West see this continent: Often times they refer to Africa as one big country. When picturing Africa they mainly come up with poverty, lions, malaria and wars. Only few people are aware that even in Africa you can eat at McDonalds, go shopping in big supermalls, go to cinema or visit galleries. There are actually many local organizations, activists, teachers and social entrepreneurs solving pressing issues in their country, the 'Aid' is not coming only from outside. Even fewer people are realizing the progress that many countries have experienced in the past decades.
During our journey we will meet some of those inspiring personalities but also many ordinary people and we will share their stories. We want to show that Africa is about more than just malaria, poverty, wars and lions.
IT IS NOT AN EGO BOOSTER
We want to be the messenger, transmitting another point of view from the field to the people at the other side. We are not saviours trying to save the world. Neither we want to prove anything to ourselves in terms of our abilities or to be portrayed as ‘brave’. This is not about being the cool white chick traveling and enjoying herself. We know of the many misconceptions about the dangers hidden in Africa, by going to face those imaginary stigmas, we want people to realize that their image of Africa is not accurate and up-to-date and it’s time to get a newer version of Africa into our Western society’s subconsciousness.
IT IS DOABLE
We both have traveled to over 70 different countries combined. Alena hitch-hiked over 60 000km in her life across and within Africa, Europe, Asia and South America and Irina has traveled to all the continents and from the Pacific/Ecuador to the Atlantic/Brasil through the Amazonas by hammock boats.
We do not know everything, but we know something about traveling and living in different countries.
WHO ARE WE?
Ala
Born Czech, brought up by my parents but educated by life. In few words I am: 101% Optimist, Chocolate and travel addict, Freedom fighter, Dream follower, Green Tea Lover, Hitchhiker, Spontaneous, Environmentalist and Full of energy.
I have spent the last 6+ years wandering around the world continents - working, traveling, studying, building libraries, hitchhiking but mainly learning about myself and life through people’s stories.
Ina
I spent most of my childhood roaming around freely with my friends and building tree houses that I dreamed of at night. My parents were the ones who taught me that you can do anything, if you have a goal and if you put plans into action.
Some things have changed but the basics are still the same today. My family and friends are strong base to me. My face lights up when there is good food or when I dance. And I run - maybe also running away from a 9 to 5 job from which I broke free in 2012. Building treehouses has been replaced by building a better today and tomorrow - yes I am a hopeless idealist.
WHEN AND WHERE
We will start in January 2018 and keep going until we finish.
Alena has done a similar journey already; she hitchhiked from Hong Kong in China all the way to the Czech Republic with few intentional and many unintentional turns, this trip of 28 000 km took her 3 months. Our planned trip will be around 20 000 km. However, this time we plan to do more than just travel. We also are aware that the road conditions and transport options will be limited and so we estimate a minimum of 6 months for this journey but most probably no more than one year.
The last part of the trip in Europe – after crossing from Morocco to Spain, and then all the way to Nordkapp in Norway, will be our chance to directly interact with ‘the other side’ and to share our experience. We might be giving some talks around schools and centres that might be interested.
BUDGET
We are using all our savings, we also apply for various grants and we are trying to think of other creative way to fund our journey.
However, the costs for insurance, vaccinations, data and internet connection for uploading the videos and stories or other unexpected expenses add up.
The more money we manage to raise the longer we can spend on the road and thus interviewing people, meeting them and sharing their stories with you.
Our small little dream is also to make few mini-documentaries about some pressing issues or interesting stories and innitiatives that we meet on the way. We would be also happy to support such innitiatives and projects if our budget allows.
FOLLOW US
Whether you decide to support us financialy or not, please like and share us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or read our blog. This expedition will only be a success if people know about us and read us! The Stereotypes can only be broken if people see, they don't hold true!
https://www.facebook.com/TheUnexpectedExpedition/
www.theunexpectedexpedition.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43LgADbq3qQ&t=
https://www.instagram.com/the_unexpected_expedition/
The Unexpected Expedition is a long-term project that aims at showing different, more up-to-date and mainly more positive side of Africa: its people, cultures, music, businesses, fashion, growth and other often overlooked topics. We - Ala and Ina - will travel overland from the southernmost point in Africa to the northernmost point in Europe and while doing so we will be talking and dancing, learning and asking but mainly listening to what people there want to share with you.
WHY WE ARE DOING THIS
- Because - why not? -
Both of us love meeting people; none of us likes ignorance. We admit that we are not ‘experts on Africa’ but we have spent over 5 years living, studying, volunteering and traveling in over 70 different countries, from which 15 are in Africa and we learnt one thing - there is no point talking about ‘African music’ 'African culture' or 'African attitude'. Africa is continent of 50+ countries and the differences among and even within the countries are enormous. In other words, could you compare Kosovo to Norway?
We are frustrated with the way many people in the West see this continent: Often times they refer to Africa as one big country. When picturing Africa they mainly come up with poverty, lions, malaria and wars. Only few people are aware that even in Africa you can eat at McDonalds, go shopping in big supermalls, go to cinema or visit galleries. There are actually many local organizations, activists, teachers and social entrepreneurs solving pressing issues in their country, the 'Aid' is not coming only from outside. Even fewer people are realizing the progress that many countries have experienced in the past decades.
During our journey we will meet some of those inspiring personalities but also many ordinary people and we will share their stories. We want to show that Africa is about more than just malaria, poverty, wars and lions.
IT IS NOT AN EGO BOOSTER
We want to be the messenger, transmitting another point of view from the field to the people at the other side. We are not saviours trying to save the world. Neither we want to prove anything to ourselves in terms of our abilities or to be portrayed as ‘brave’. This is not about being the cool white chick traveling and enjoying herself. We know of the many misconceptions about the dangers hidden in Africa, by going to face those imaginary stigmas, we want people to realize that their image of Africa is not accurate and up-to-date and it’s time to get a newer version of Africa into our Western society’s subconsciousness.
IT IS DOABLE
We both have traveled to over 70 different countries combined. Alena hitch-hiked over 60 000km in her life across and within Africa, Europe, Asia and South America and Irina has traveled to all the continents and from the Pacific/Ecuador to the Atlantic/Brasil through the Amazonas by hammock boats.
We do not know everything, but we know something about traveling and living in different countries.
WHO ARE WE?
Ala
Born Czech, brought up by my parents but educated by life. In few words I am: 101% Optimist, Chocolate and travel addict, Freedom fighter, Dream follower, Green Tea Lover, Hitchhiker, Spontaneous, Environmentalist and Full of energy.
I have spent the last 6+ years wandering around the world continents - working, traveling, studying, building libraries, hitchhiking but mainly learning about myself and life through people’s stories.
Ina
I spent most of my childhood roaming around freely with my friends and building tree houses that I dreamed of at night. My parents were the ones who taught me that you can do anything, if you have a goal and if you put plans into action.
Some things have changed but the basics are still the same today. My family and friends are strong base to me. My face lights up when there is good food or when I dance. And I run - maybe also running away from a 9 to 5 job from which I broke free in 2012. Building treehouses has been replaced by building a better today and tomorrow - yes I am a hopeless idealist.
WHEN AND WHERE
We will start in January 2018 and keep going until we finish.
Alena has done a similar journey already; she hitchhiked from Hong Kong in China all the way to the Czech Republic with few intentional and many unintentional turns, this trip of 28 000 km took her 3 months. Our planned trip will be around 20 000 km. However, this time we plan to do more than just travel. We also are aware that the road conditions and transport options will be limited and so we estimate a minimum of 6 months for this journey but most probably no more than one year.
The last part of the trip in Europe – after crossing from Morocco to Spain, and then all the way to Nordkapp in Norway, will be our chance to directly interact with ‘the other side’ and to share our experience. We might be giving some talks around schools and centres that might be interested.
BUDGET
We are using all our savings, we also apply for various grants and we are trying to think of other creative way to fund our journey.
However, the costs for insurance, vaccinations, data and internet connection for uploading the videos and stories or other unexpected expenses add up.
The more money we manage to raise the longer we can spend on the road and thus interviewing people, meeting them and sharing their stories with you.
Our small little dream is also to make few mini-documentaries about some pressing issues or interesting stories and innitiatives that we meet on the way. We would be also happy to support such innitiatives and projects if our budget allows.
FOLLOW US
Whether you decide to support us financialy or not, please like and share us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or read our blog. This expedition will only be a success if people know about us and read us! The Stereotypes can only be broken if people see, they don't hold true!
https://www.facebook.com/TheUnexpectedExpedition/
www.theunexpectedexpedition.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43LgADbq3qQ&t=
https://www.instagram.com/the_unexpected_expedition/
Organizer and beneficiary
Alena Machalkova
Organizer
Stuttgart
Irina Ruoff
Beneficiary
