SOAS, University of London (The School of Oriental and African Studies)

Challenging perspectives: A journey through Africa by bicycle

On 7th August 2011, SOAS alumnus Craig Pollard (MSc Violence, Conflict and Development, 2008) and his wife Loretta White left London as members of the six-strong Cycle Africa team. Exactly a year later they arrived in Cape Town, South Africa. They had cycled nearly 17,000 kilometres through 27 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa without a support vehicle and carrying all of their own equipment. The journey had taken them across Sudan's Nubian Desert in the 50°C heat, over the lofty mountains of Ethiopia, and through nearly 1,000 kilometres of mud and sand in western Tanzania. Through Cycle Africa, the team and their supporters raised significant funds for the work of five charities that support street children in Africa and raised the profile of the issues faced by the millions of children who work, eat, learn and sleep on Africa's streets.

"Challenging perspectives: A journey through Africa by bicycle" is an exhibition of Craig Pollard's photographs that tells the story of the Cycle Africa journey, from his perspective. It also portrays the people and places along the way that challenged him to examine his own perspectives of Africa, of childhood, of poverty, of friendship, and of what is and what isn'tpossible.

Available during Library opening hours.