A common passion for travel is where their project was born. After several stays together in Vietnam, Mexico and Morocco, Paul Rivière and Martin Chazelle, two 23-year-olds from Toulouse, decided to set up their association “Les routes de l’innovation”.

Both students in the field of innovation, their project is focused on a trip “to meet new innovative technologies in Africa”, as Martin explains. “We wanted to travel by giving meaning to our stay. From there we thought about a useful project for people and the planet while learning and discovering the innovations of African culture”, he continues. The companions road trip will begin on February 27 heading to Nairobi, Kenya. The two friends have selected around twenty innovative projects with a positive impact, launched by African companies or schools. Once there, they will meet the leaders of these projects to “understand their actions, their issues and the history of their innovation”, adds Martin. Throughout their journey, the duo will maintain a logbook with the publication of articles highlighting the technologies encountered on their way. The goal is to create replicas of these positive impacts to be used in other regions and countries as well.

For example, Paul and Martin planned to meet with a company that has developed artificial intelligence to detect drought areas. Another innovation that they have chosen comes from a school which, from recycled telephones, has set up a listening system in the forests to fight against poaching and deforestation.

For now, they will leave for a period of 3 months thanks to their savings, for a tour of Lake Victoria starting with Kenya, then passing through Uganda, Rwanda and finally Tanzania. The rest of their journey will depend on the support they will have on the online kitty they have supported to support the project. With sufficient funds, their journey would continue on the roads of Zimbabwe, then Namibia…