Nivin Ronny, a 9-year-old boy from Kerala’s Rajapuram village, excitedly broke his clay piggy financial institution to see the financial savings he had amassed through the years. It had Rs 1,117.
Nevertheless, he didn’t use the cash to buy a toy however donated it to 2 strangers on a cycle. The Class 4 pupil had seen the 2 cyclists just a few days in the past in a YouTube video. They’re on a mission to gather cash to construct homes for the poor.
Nivin is likely one of the many who’ve been touched by the duo’s initiative. So, he determined to postpone shopping for a cycle to present an underprivileged household a house.
“We had been so stunned and on the identical time moved by the boy’s gesture. Our ‘One Rupee’ mission is lastly taking off,” says Nijin KG, one of many cyclists.
Nijin and his buddy, TR Reneesh from the Wayanad district, are on a novel biking journey to construct houses for 5 households. The duo goes from village to village asking individuals to donate Re 1 for his or her trigger.
Within the period of social media, the place making connections and asking for funds is just a click on away, the duo selected to pedal their option to make the requests in particular person.
“We needed individuals to take our mission critically and thank them in particular person for the donations. On social media, issues might go incorrect and there’s a lack of belief. We didn’t wish to ask for big sums of cash from prosperous households, NGOs or politicians. Nevertheless, everybody can afford to donate Re 1,” says 32-year-old Reenesh.
With a meagre Re 1 donation, they estimate at the least two years to gather a complete of Rs 42 lakh to buy land and assemble 5 houses.
They started their journey on 10 December 2021 and at present (11 February) is their sixty fourth day. Up to now, they’ve collected Rs 1.68 lakh — the donated sum is deposited within the financial institution each two days.
Thus far, they lined a distance of greater than 100 km throughout 400 villages and are at the moment in Kasargod city.
The ‘One Rupee Mission’
Natives of Ambalavayal village, Reneesh and Nijin grew to become associates due to their widespread curiosity of serving to the destitute.
Six years in the past, Nijin, a college instructor, visited a cell store to restore his telephone the place he met Reneesh, a former salesperson.
The duo bought to speaking and realised they needed to work for a social trigger however their modest earnings and household obligations restricted their function. In order that they engaged in small charities.
After months of planning and discussions, the ‘Mission One Rupee’ was born. However their households had been agitated by their resolution at first.
It was simpler for Nijin to persuade his mom and elder brother, who was sort sufficient to tackle all of the household’s monetary duty.
Nevertheless, for Reenesh, who has a son and a spouse, a 2-year-old highway journey appeared far-fetched. Fortunately, his mother and father determined to pitch in after studying of their selfless endeavour.
Nijin’s buddy Joshy agreed to promote them 20 cents of land at a reduced worth of Rs 7 lakh. A further Rs 1 lakh can be used to satisfy the development bills.
“Now we have already bought land on mortgage and as we get the cash, we’re paying again [the loan] in instalments. The development has already begun with foundational trenches and groundwork. We’ll solely cease [cycling] after the homes are at the least half-built,” says Nijin.
“Nijin and Reneesh are doing nice work and I’m very completely happy to be a part of their mission. In addition to land, I’m additionally serving to with development supplies,” says Joshy
The Wayanad Tourism Organisation and Wayanad District Biking Affiliation additionally helped by offering sleeping luggage, tents and cycles.
The duo selected cycle because it was the most cost effective mode with little upkeep prices to satisfy new individuals. “Biking has develop into such a fad in India. If individuals can do it for his or her health, we will undoubtedly pedal to carry smiles,” he provides.
Pedalling Our Solution to a Selfless Deed
On their biking journey, the duo has had bitter-sweet experiences and met a number of the kindest strangers.
“Because of the boards on our cycle that reads ‘Give one rupee, change somebody’s life’, individuals are at all times intrigued as quickly as we enter a village. Some make enjoyable of us and the small quantity we ask for, some welcome us wholeheartedly to have meals with them and a few refuse to even donate Re 1. This needs to be the weirdest, heartwarming and adventurous journey of our lives,” says Reneesh.
One of the best days are when strangers provide them lodging, meals and greater than Re 1. However their unhealthy days entail enduring excessive climate situations, tire punctures and sleeping within the open.
The beneficiaries of this venture can be chosen from Kerala throughout their journey, “We
wish to meet the households, perceive their plight after which choose them,” he provides.
To doc their journey, the duo runs their YouTube channel, which has greater than 1,900 subscribers. You’ll be able to comply with them right here.
You’ll be able to contact them right here.
(Edited by Yoshita Rao)