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How Did the Names of These International Rotary Clubs End Up on an Ambulance in the Indian State of Maharashtra?
In January 2024, participants of the Indian Ride for Rotary 8 took a lunch break at a young Rotary Club in the small town of Narayangaon, Maharashtra, during their journey from Udaipur in Rajasthan to Goa. The members of this young club had ambitious plans: they combined the lunch with the presentation of their first Global Grant project, for which they had already raised nearly $10,000. Their goal was to acquire an ambulance and a blood bank for their rural region.
The participants of our journey (45 Rotarians from thirteen countries) were so impressed that, in the weeks that followed, fourteen donors came forward under the leadership of Bas Hendriksen from RC The Hague Pulchri in the Netherlands. Each contributed between $500 and $2,000, allowing the Global Grant project to be approved before the end of the last Rotary year. Additionally, the districts of these clubs contributed from their District Designated Fund (DDF) to support the project. Since December, both the ambulance and the blood bank have been in operation.
Ride for Rotary: A Unique Travel Experience
Ride for Rotary is an initiative of District 3181 in the southern Indian state of Karnataka, first held in 2016 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Rotary Foundation. The goal of Ride for Rotary is to allow Rotarians from around the world to experience India in a unique way through a motorcycle and car journey across different regions.
District 3181 organizes the entire travel route of approximately 1,500 kilometres, arranging motorcycles, cars, the full program, and accommodations. The travel groups are accompanied by Indian Rotary members, both on motorcycles and in cars. Along the way, there are regular stops at local Rotary Clubs, where the group is warmly welcomed and local projects are presented.
Approximately one-third of the travel fee is donated by District 3181 to the Rotary Foundation. Since 2016, this initiative has raised around $200,000, which has been invested in educational projects within the district.
Different Routes and Future Plans
Each year, a different region of India is visited, usually at the beginning of January. In 2024, not only was the previously mentioned route from Udaipur to Goa completed, but there was also a journey through the Himalayas in June (which is expected to be repeated in the summer of 2026). In January of this year, the state of Madhya Pradesh was on the itinerary, with a route from Indore through the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Khajuraho and Agra, ending in Delhi.
Plans for 2025 are already taking shape: in honour of the 10th anniversary of this Rotary project, the journey will most likely pass through South India, particularly Kerala. This offers both new and experienced travellers to India a fantastic opportunity to gain unforgettable experiences. The program for 2026 will be announced in the fall.
Christof von Branconi, RC Kronberg
More information: rideforrotary.com
ABOUT ROTARY
“Ride for Rotary” a TRF fund raising project which is a motorcycle ride event across 4 Rotary Districts in India in which the participants will experience Indian heritage, culture and hospitality along with exchange of Rotary views and fellowship.