Timothy Jackson, Founder of Jackson’s African Safaris understands the importance of the bicycle to the people in Africa. He has witnessed firsthand the use of a bicycle to carry goods, water, and people. During the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda, the bicycle provided an escape for some. Mr. Jackson reached out to the founders of Team Rwanda Cycling to discuss a partnership which is now evolving over time, with Team Africa Rising.
Jackson’s African Safaris knows how important the work of Team Africa Rising is in Rwanda and the other countries where their teams are in development. Supporting these teams with programs, bringing international attention to their organizations, it’s work, and most importantly to Africa, is crucial. In today’s world tourism can make all the difference in the long-term health and survival of wildlife, landscapes, and people within Africa. With Covid-19, Africa has seen one of the largest GDP contributors for countries come to a complete stop.
Jackson’s African Safaris when referred a client through the Team Africa rising Organization will give back a full 10% of the tour price or as close as possible to this to the Team Africa Rising Organization. Actually, Mr Jackson says, any of his personal clients or referrals, can choose where they donate their 10%, and he will always bring his clients attention to their company list of suggested benefactors including (TAR) Team Africa Rising.
Timothy Jackson spoke of the initial idea, “In…2016…I simply planted the seed of creating a program at the center in Rwanda (ARCC) where groups could visit Rwanda, cycle and participate with the team and any business for safaris anywhere in Africa the team could generate for me, I would share the profits back to their program. Kimberly Coats, Director of Marketing for Team Africa Rising, was thrilled with the idea of partnering with a safari company. “This equates to support for our teams. It is a win for all parties.”
The Beginning’s of Team Rwanda and today’s Team Africa Rising.
Team Rwanda Cycling began in 2007 and exponentially grew the sport of cycling in Rwanda, a country torn apart in genocide in 1994. Through the work of Team Rwanda Cycling, we assembled a team of professional cyclists who now race competitively on the international stage and in so doing, are exceptional ambassadors for Rwanda. They give others, both nations and people in conflict, hope.
See the film ‘Rising from the Ashes’ – the documentary film about the establishment of Team Rwanda.
Team Rwanda was founded in 2006 by a group of cycling industry legends and friends after watching some fantastic raw talent compete at the first Wooden Bike Classic. That was the beginning of Team Rwanda Cycling.
Since 2006, Team Rwanda Cycling grew to be a powerhouse on the African Continent and Rwanda has developed into a competitive cycling country with a top-ranked UCI 2.1 race, Tour of Rwanda. There are hundreds of young men and women now hoping to use cycling as a vehicle to rise out of poverty.
In 2014, Team Africa Rising developed the Africa Rising Cycling Center in Musanze, Rwanda which now houses and trains the national team.
Our mission has been to not only recruit, train, and compete in cycling, but also to teach and train the next generation of coaches, mechanics, nutritionists, etc. for the program by modeling the necessary infrastructure of running a first-world cycling program. Ultimately, we worked to train Rwandans to run Team Rwanda Cycling while we expand our proven program into other countries and develop competitive cycling in Africa – for both men and women. To reflect this grand mission of broadening our holistic approach to cycling into other countries with histories of conflict, we changed our official name to Team Africa Rising (TAR) in 2015.
Most importantly, Team Africa Rising is now working to grow cycling throughout the continent helping other nations such as Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Algeria and continuing support to Ethiopia and Eritrea. Together we will develop the sport of cycling on the continent, and someday, we will have a black African rider win the prestigious Tour de France!
So, if you would like to see 10% of the price you pay for your adventure in Africa go to TAR let us know and we will make that happen!
Here is the TAR website: https://teamafricarising.org/
Written by Kimberly Coats & Timothy Jackson