Having known each other since their studies, Lester and Maurice have connected over their passion for cycling, becoming part of the community centred around Lola Bikes and Coffee, a coffee shop based in The Netherlands. Lola had always maintained a link with cyclists in East Africa and Amani was born out of this connection, along with a passion for cycling and desire to create a global cycling community to support East African riders and break down some of the barriers that prevent them reaching the highest levels of the sport. As the project has grown, Lester and Maurice have supported the development of an exchange programme with East African Riders, an online e-racing community and The Migration Gravel Race itself.