Two UK teachers travelling in a tuk tuk promoting education

Two UK teachers travelling through over 50 countries in a tuk tuk promoting and advancing education

On 19th March 2013, two founders of The Tuk Tuk Educational Trust arrived at the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, completing the Africa leg of their round the world expedition promoting and advancing education (Tuk Tuk Travels). Nick Gough and Rich Sears are undertaking the journey in a tuk tuk (a small, open-sided, three-wheeled vehicle) and are hoping to be the first people ever to drive such a vehicle around the world. Having passed through 27 countries, the pair have covered over 17,200 miles, closing in on the current world record for the longest journey in an auto-rickshaw.

Throughout the expedition (sponsored by Cardiff University), the team will be visiting grassroots, community-based education projects. As part of its innovative donation system, supporters of the charity will be able to assign contributions to unique ventures highlighted via short films shot and produced throughout the expedition. On the macro level, the pair are trying to raise awareness for the Global Campaign for Education. By talking at schools and universities they are hoping to engage students in developmental debate, particularly concerning the role of education in this process.

Rich Sears, co-founder of The Tuk Tuk Educational Trust said: “The World’s leaders have made a commitment to achieving universal primary education by 2015 but, despite this pledge, over 61 million primary-aged children worldwide still lack access to any form of education.”

Tuk Tuk Travels has already received support from renowned expeditionary, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, who said: “Tuk Tuk Travels is a unique adventure through some of the most challenging and diverse environments, cultures and countries on the planet – it promises to be unmissable viewing.”

Actor and human rights champion, Joanna Lumley, is also among those who have backed the project. She said: “Inspired lunacy with a heart of gold and the mind of Aristotle - I’m behind Tuk Tuk Travels all the way.”

The Tuk Tuk Travels team launched its round the world expedition from the British Museum in London on 13 August 2012. They travelled around the UK before crossing Europe and passing down through Africa – the first tuk tuk ever to do so. They are currently shipping the vehicle to Mumbai, India, from where they will continue across Asia and around the Americas.

Nick Gough, co-founder of The Tuk Tuk Educational Trust said: “Education lies at the heart of our endeavour. We believe that to promote education for all is to empower some of the most vulnerable and marginalised people in society, allowing them achieve their full potential.”

The team has elected to travel around the world in a tuk tuk in order to take advantage of its slow-paced, open and friendly nature in order to explore and unlock different cultures and communities, learning about and from their values, struggles, inspirations and ambitions. The vehicle itself is iconic, exhilarating, eye-catching and engaging.

Traversing the length of Africa in a tuk tuk was no easy task. In Northern Kenya and Western Tanzania, the team faced over 1000 miles of dirt tracks, where thick mud, deep sand and large rocks made progress painfully slow. Hours of each day were spent manoeuvring the tuk tuk out of seemingly impassable jams or with one of the team walking alongside the vehicle to reduce its weight and help push when required. Despite such challenging terrain, the tuk tuk only sustained one flat tyre outside Paris and one snapped accelerator cable in Southern Africa. Wherever the team were, it would not take long for a friendly passer-by to come and lend a hand.

The team uncovered some inspirational projects across Africa and witnessed firsthand the extent of the educational challenges facing the continent today. They joined street children in slums of Cairo, Khartoum and Kampala; visited Congolese refugees in camps in Eastern Burundi; and saw how education can help foster peace and reconciliation in Rwanda after meeting two young genocide survivors in Kigali.

Keep up to date with the team’s progress:

www.tuktuktravels.com
www.facebook.com/TukTukTravels
https://twitter.com/TukTukTravels

About the Tuk Tuk Educational Trust
The Tuk Tuk Educational Trust is a registered UK charity (No. 1146288) working to promote and advance education worldwide. The charity raises awareness about the Global Campaign for Education and aims to increase the accountability of world leaders for the achievement of the global education targets set at the turn of the Millennium.

www.tuktuktravels.com/the-charity

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