Two young former Monash University students have been recognised in the top 35 people under 35 making change in Africa.
Clinton Bush and Michael Heyne will meet in Cape Town, South Africa next week to begin their overland trip on motorbike to Ethiopia.
From Ethiopia, the duo will fly to Ghana and continue to ride their bikes up the west coast of Africa and on to Europe where their journey will end in London.
The motivation behind the trip is to raise $50,000 for Friends of Tionge, a foundation established to support disadvantaged and homeless children and teenagers in Zambia’s capital, Lusaka.
Their efforts were recognised by the Young People in International Affairs, who compiled the list.
Before their departure, the men had raised about $25,000 towards their goal and had already organised the construction of play equipment in Chainda School in Lusaka.
“There are a lot of negative stereotypes in Africa, that’s why we want to make a documentary along the way,” Mr Bush said.
“The main aim is to fundraise for disadvantaged kids in Zambia while working against the stereotype,” Mr Bush said.
Mr Bush and Mr Heyne were nominated for their placing by their peers at Monash University.
“It was a bit of a surprise because neither of us really expected that sort of honour I guess but it’s very good that people are getting to know what we’re doing and we feel very proud that people think what we’re doing is good and are getting behind us,” Mr Bush said.
“We had a lot of good feedback from (Young People in International Affairs), the whole idea of the competition was to raise awareness for what you’re doing.”
