Hong Kong rickshaw adventurers hit road to support girls’ education in India

Travelling more than 2,500km across India could be an arduous journey by any mode of transport. But by rickshaw, with a mere 7hp engine, it promises to be a nightmare.

The challenge hasn’t deterred the Hong Kong “Education Explorers” team, however.

Clare Wong, Phillipe Angst, Thomas Boarder, Paul Niel and Sofia Ramirez will start their journey tomorrow in two glorified lawnmowers, to battle expected breakdowns, unmapped roads and a dangerous indifference to road rules in the name of girls’ education.

They have a fundraising goal of US$50,000 for Indian charity, Educate Girls, which will be matched by the UBS Optimus Foundation. Their combined target of US$100,000 will help send 10,000 Indian girls back to school.

“Girls without education in rural India are often subjected to child marriage and have children very young, or if they are poor they’ll drop out of schools to marry,” said Wong, 32, a language teacher. “Educating girls has a flow-on effect – it means HIV is three times less likely, mothers will go on to educate their children and it helps to alleviate poverty.”

The team will set off on two 145cc rickshaws from the port of Kochin in Kerala state on India’s southwest coast, headed for the northwestern city of Jaisalmer, near the border with Pakistan. The trip is part of the Rickshaw Run, organised by The Adventurists, charity fundraisers whose outlandish events have so far raised £4.7 million (HK$56.7 million).