FAQ
TUF – Thumbs Up Foundation (the Dutch non-profit organization behind Thumbs Up Africa)
TUA – Thumbs Up Africa: hitchhiking 15 000 kilometers across Africa for a sustainable future! (TUF’s first cross-continent media project)
Frequently Asked Questions about Thumbs Up Africa
Who is crazy enough to embark on such a wild hitchhike adventure?
Christiaan, Neda and Sierd.
Departure and finish?
Christiaan, Neda and Sierd have started their journey on the 1st of October 2012, in the student city Groningen in the Netherlands. A smashing finish event will welcome them in Cape Town, South Africa, in the second week of January 2013.
Which countries will they pass?
Christiaan, Neda and Sierd make their way through Eastern Europe and Turkey. In Africa, they travel through Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. See where they are right now by clicking here!
Why Africa?
TUA is TUF’s first cross-continent media project. Africa is chosen as the location for this first cross-continent media project as TUA was born based on the three passions of its founder and current board member Roy Tjan: hitchhiking, international development, and Africa (for more on the origins, click here). Future cross-continent media projects will be organized after successful implementation of TUA.
Why are Christiaan, Neda and Sierd embarking on this trip?
Not only do they want to better understand what impact such things as war, climate change, and social and economic injustices have on the daily lives of people, but by doing grassroots hands-on work in local development cooperation and humanitarian aid projects along the route, they want to better grasp where we stand in reaching a sustainable global society for all.
In which development cooperation and humanitarian aid projects will they work?
Every week and in each country, the hitchhikers will do grassroots hands-on work in a development cooperation or humanitarian aid projects. There, they will get to work side by side with the employers and employees while getting an understanding of the challenges and possibilities in giving shape to a sustainable society! The concept ‘sustainability’ encompasses more than just ‘green initiatives’. Christiaan, Neda and Sierd will participate in projects ranging from dealing with poachers in the nature reserves, to projects that facilitate the community reintegration of child soldiers. Partly, these projects can be chosen by you in the special online multicast sessions.
Hmm, hitchhiking for three months and 15000 kilometers across Africa– is that safe?
Christiaan, Neda and Sierd don’t go unprepared! Arranging visas, permits, trainings and workshops – the organization behind TUA (TUF) is working together with several individuals and partner organizations who are experts in their fields of Africa, transmedia, sustainable development, and the more logistical aspects. Also, during TUA, a support crew is traveling along, consisting of a local guide and journey coordinator, and two filmmakers. In this way, direct assistance is available in case of emergency
How can I follow Christiaan, Neda and Sierd during Thumbs Up Africa?
Via the TUA website (www.thumbsupafrica.org), facebook and Twitter, you can follow their journey through online video episodes, video diaries, written blogs, and (local) radio and television programs.On one of these platforms, we hope to hear your thoughts on the Thumbs Up adventures!
How can I become a part of Thumbs Up Africa?
This whole journey is made as interactive as possible. We hope that by following the journey through the hitchhikers’ updates and short online videos, Thumbs Up Africa becomes an experience in which you will feel as if you are traveling along! Via the different social media platforms, you can help them hitching rides and finding places to stay, and decide in which projects they will participate. Get in touch with them and all the people they encounter during their journey by directly interacting with them! Discuss your questions and views with the hitchhikers, project workers, and other people they meet & make new friends!
I've been hearing 'transmedia' quite a lot... What is it?
Well, our friends at Spektor Storytelling can explain best... Click here to watch a video from the executive director Joris, and his colleague Joeri, pioneers and cowboys in the exciting world of transmedia!
Frequently Asked Questions about the Thumbs Up Foundation
What is the goal of the Thumbs Up Foundation?
TUF is an ANBI accredited non-profit organization which aims to raise awareness with young individuals on the necessity to build towards a just, sustainable and peaceful global society for current and future generations. It does so in a way that appeals to those it intends to reach. In an adventurous, young, dynamic and interactive way it makes the effects of unsustainable ways of living — such as war, an unequal distribution of wealth and resources, and a disrespect for ecological integrity — and the actions undertaken in the struggle against these effects visible on an international scale by hitchhiking across continents, engaging in intercultural dialogue and involving young individuals worldwide. TUF is supported by its Committee of Recommendation: Dr.H.C. Ruud Lubbers, former prime-minister of the Netherlands and former High Commissioner for Refugees of the UN; Razeena Omar, former manager of WWF South Africa; Farid Tabarki, presenter, concept developer of media formats for NPS and chief-editor of the Coolpolitics Foundation; and Dirk Janssen, Dutch Youth representative to the UN. Want to know more? Click here.
A sustainable future – what do you mean?
TUF envisions a future in which people live in a way that sustains both the environment and a global society which respects universal human rights, social and economic justice, political inclusion, diversity and a culture of peace. A sustainable world is one in which we respect and care for the community of life. A world in which we all live in harmony: together and with nature.
How can you hitchhike for a sustainable future?
During their unprecedented journey, Christiaan, Neda and Sierd will be confronted with the effects of war, ecological degradation, and social and economic injustice. By co-experiencing the adventure of the hitchhikers through online videos, radio, television, social media, and multicasts, both the hitchhikers and their followers will witness the impacts of unsustainable development, while sparking the discussion on the constraints and possibilities in reaching a sustainable future. TUA tries to get us thinking, talking, to actively considering our role and place in the world. By making this experience a personal and fully interactive one, we can start living up to our potential as ambassadors of change, each in our own place, but together in a common goal. An enormous challenge with a message of great importance!
How do I become a part of the Thumbs Up movement?
You can become a part of this movement by spreading the word, sharing the news, making your own life and (local) community more sustainable, or even by just making a small donation to TUF. Would you like to do more than this, and try to actively give shape to the Thumbs Up movement? In other words, would you yourself like to become part of Thumbs Up? We would love you to! Have a look at our vacancies for TUA - ESN or email us at info@thumbsupafrica.org to see if you can start a regional Your Thumbs Up affiliate. Your Thumbs Up is all about setting up regionally-bound awareness raising events on a sustainable future in a young, dynamic, adventurous and interactive manner and under the umbrella of the vision and mission of the Thumbs Up Foundation.
How do I get in contact?
How do I get in contact with Christiaan, Neda and Sierd?
Getting in touch with Christiaan, Neda and Sierd is possible by sending an email to info@thumbsupafrica.org.
How do I get in contact with the Thumbs Up Foundation?
For general inquiries: please mail your questions to info@thumbsupafrica.org, we will answer them soon! For press, please contact: yvonne_kraak@hotmail.com.
