Sustainability
Accommodations
At Jouw Afrika Reis and Gravel Africa, sustainability is of paramount importance to us. In addition, we think it is important that the country we visit benefits from the tourism we bring. We do this, for example, by opting for small-scale accommodations on our trips. All places where we stay have been regularly visited by ourselves. This is how we assure ourselves of both the quality and the intentions behind the accommodation.
You will therefore not encounter large, well-known hotel chains with us. We like small scale and authenticity. That means we have the one time spend the night in a homestay, then again in a cozy guesthouse, bed & breakfast or a picturesque hotel. Apart from the fact that our way of staying is very personal - you really get in touch with the locals - the community benefits from staying in the village.
Did you know that we support various local projects with Gravel Africa? Initiatives that benefit the local population. Songo is a wonderful example of this. A visit to the youth center where underprivileged children are given the opportunity to study and play sports under supervision is even part of our Cape Cross gravel trip through South Africa. On this page you can read more about Songo.
Who and what is
Songo
As you have read above, Songo is a youth center in Stellenbosch, located right next to a large township on the outskirts of the city. Sipho Madolo runs this location where about a hundred underprivileged young people from the neighborhood are helped with school activities. For example, a teacher is present at Songo to help the children with homework. In addition, they can use laptops and textbooks.
In addition to learning, the children can enjoy sports: Songo has access to mountain bikes and cross bikes (BMX). This way the young people can even work on sporting ambitions. There is even a pump track constructed. A trainer teaches the children the intricacies of the sport and teaches them how to maintain the equipment properly.
These skills form a good basis for the rest of life and increase the chance of a life without poverty. At Gravel Africa we hope to be able to contribute a little bit to this, for example by including the tour in our program and through our own casual clothing line. You can read more about that below.
Casual kleding
At Gravel Africa we have designed our own casual t-shirt. The proceeds from the sale of these shirts will go to Songo.
The t-shirts are available in different sizes (S/M/L/XL) and models (man/woman) in our clubhouse Mechanieker Zwolle. Price for the unique and stylish shirt is only 28.50. When you buy such a shirt, you therefore contribute to Songo.
It is good to know that the clothing is delivered byNeutral Organic: produced in a sustainable way from ecologically responsible materials. The cotton is 100% organic. Good for humansand nature. You can read more about it belowNeutral Organic.
Neutral Organic
We are very happy with our cooperation withNeutral Organic.
Neutral Organic believes in sustainable production of clothing: from the cotton field to production. With a 100% commitment to certified clothing, they want to improve the planet, make workers healthier and give farmers hope.
Our uniqueGravel Africa shirts are 100% fair trade and organic. Neutral Organic's clothing is made of sustainable materials and is produced under fair working conditions. Sustainable clothing is therefore better for the environment as well as for people.
