A Journey to Inspire Change – Rickshawalas

The Rickshawalas, members of the CARE Youth undertook a challenge in 2012, here is their journey to inspire change. 

“I’m a young entrepreneur, I graduated from LSE in 2009, but unlike many of my peers the whole corporate career route never really appealed to me.

A couple of summers ago came my real inspiration, two teenagers really close to me spent a few weeks teaching in a school for the naturally challenged in Madhapar, Kutch, in Gujarat. They returned as different people. No longer were they kids, but now confident young adults with a story to share.

At this point many questions sprung up in my mind:

  • What did they experience?
  • Why had their perception of the world changed so much?
  • How did they create such a strong bond with these children in such a short period of time?

I wanted to see, experience, feel what they had. I wanted to connect in a way that they had.

Born, brought up and educated in the UK, I have never really understood the real India, the rich culture, the diverse extremes and the deep humanity.

I wanted to open my eyes to the real world, not the one restricted by my modern lifestyle and constrained by western media.

But I wanted to do more than just travel…I wanted to be a part of the change and make a real difference.

The school these teenagers visited is supported by a UK based charity, CAREducation Trust. They work to better the lives of underprivileged children through education.

Why it’s so special is because unlike others, it takes no expenses or administration costs,

100% of funds donated go directly to the children and all members work totally voluntarily.

I wanted to understand why such gender inequality still exists, understand education provision to those less privileged, and find solutions….

Why do I feel so strongly about this? Why should I care?

My life here in the UK is fine, why go out of my way for these people.

We have seen that one man can make a huge difference fighting for the people. Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, and closer to home in India, Bhagat Singh, Nehru, Mother Theresa…

But in this case it is not one. I am part of a team.

I’m not here to preach or teach, all I want to do is share what I have seen, what I have experienced, I want to inspire change

Everyone of us has it in us to make a difference, even if its one life improved, its a step forward. We are not responsible for the state of the world but can we stand and watch? I can’t. We must make a change.

Come join me on my journey of discovery, a journey that has truly changed my life. “

– Nirav Shah

Rickshawalas: Nirav Shah, Janvi Shah, Kavi Shah, Kushan Shah, Raveena Nagaria, Dilisha Patel, Bhavik Haria, Nishil Shah,  Aarti Shah, Kushal Shah

Filmed, edited & Produced: Bhavik Haria – Cincera Productions

Join the next challenge: CARE trek: Kilimanjaro 2013

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