Paying it Forward

Over the past 20 years my husband and I have traveled extensively in India. During our most recent trip we had the privilege of meeting Ramu. Ramu is an auto rickshaw driver in Chennai (formerly Madras) who was our personal driver. We found him to be a humble, honest man with strong family bonds. His wife Durga and young sons Manikandan and Karthik are to him his greatest blessings.

Durga works long hours as a cleaner for a small hotel and earns $10 per month. Ramu rents his rickshaw from the owner, which he drives every day and for similarly long hours. In this way the couple provide for their immediate and extended family, which includes Durga's sister who helps care for the children while Ramu and his wife are at work.

One day in conversation I asked Ramu how he hoped to improve the life of his children and his unequivocal response was, through education. He said that the reason he and his wife worked such long hours was to ensure that their sons would get a good education and learn English.

The family lives in the slums of Chennai but Ramu believes that where you live does not determine where you must remain. I asked him how he came to this conclusion and he told me that some years ago he'd travelled with an elderly American gentleman as his personal driver. That contact changed how Ramu looked at life.

During subsequent conversations with Ramu, the local bank manager, and an auto rickshaw dealer we learned how we could establish Ramu in business for himself. In the process we sought the advice and translating skills of two business friends in Chennai, one of which, agreed to mentor Ramu in this process, as needed.

Some years ago I saw the movie, Pay it Forward. I liked the idea behind it. I talked with my husband about it and we decided to help Ramu become an independent businessman as an expression of paying it forward.

Ramu understood that the purchase of the rickshaw—something way beyond his means—was to enable him to better support himself and his family. In due time it was hoped, as he became able, he would also extend the idea of paying it forward to someone else. In conversations with him it became clear that he was particularly pleased to be part of paying it forward.

When we returned to Canada my husband and I set about raising the $5,000 Canadian needed to purchase the rickshaw, the permits, insurance and license.

One of my husbands interests is photography. To help raise funds for Ramu and his family we decided to sell some of Colin's photographs.

Financial accounting.

The goal is to raise $5,00.00 to purchase a motor rickshaw for Ramu and his family.
To date the total amount raised is: $2,725.00
As of the June 24 report we had raised $2,410.00
Additional funds raised through the summer despite high hopes were: $315.00

If you would like to help please contact us at: stephaniemallard@shaw.ca

Thank you.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Mallard