Freedoms are not only the primary ends of development, they are also among its principal means.
— Amartya Sen.
We recently finished a five month journey around Southern and Eastern Africa, to experience the people, cultures, customs, and the diverse flora and fauna of the region. Influenced by our professional backgrounds in engineering and economics and driven by our interests around social innovation, water and sanitation, and technology, we viewed our trip as a great opportunity to collect data and engage with stakeholders within these ecosystems. The platform not only represents where we went over the 25,000 km route, but also the people who’s lives depend on access to basic infrastructure like clean and safe drinking water, proper sanitation, a place to put their waste, and reliable energy.
Through this project we seek to understand how different social structures and institutions influence the adoption of innovative technical and human solutions in the development and use of basic infrastructure.