Running towards educating India’s underprivileged.

By Shaan Bajaj

On the 27th of March, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad Association Thailand (VHP) and the Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation Thailand, an organisation on a mission to empower rural India and Thailand by providing elementary education and skill-related education, held a walk-a-thon at Benjakitti Park. Coming together to raise awareness and funds for this worthy cause, the two organisations’ model concept is to create one school per village, with one teacher. The cost of educating 20-30 students across all classes is around US$ 1 per day. Two Thai schools have been selected as the benefactors of this event, the Satya Sai School & Baan Na Somboon School, who received THB 75,000 each.

The president of Ekal Vidyalaya, Pradeep Lodha, began the event with a speech welcoming all the participants. Participants could choose to be ‘fun runners’ or ‘race runners,’ with a registration fee of THB 300. The former category would complete 3.6 km while the latter would complete 5.6 km. The run began at 7am, with food and beverages prepared for after. Runners were also given medals and trophies.

The event was a great success, with many people participating and enough money for over 14 schools had been donated before the event even began. Registration closed early for the event, as they reached the limit of how many people could attend. It would not have been such a triumph without the event’s sponsors, Smart Arts, Saraff Global, Tanya Collections & Living Star Diamonds, and the generosity of everyone involved who donated their time and money. Notably, Shreemati Nirmala Sachetiji was one of the first to donate, and Anilji Kothari donated 14 schools to the cause.

Click here to see more photos from this event.