Dutchman 'pedals' English, computers to Indian kids
The New India Express
19 December 2005
Bhubaneswar, Orissa: A Dutch youth, in India as part of his world cycling tour, has taken on a mission of teaching Indian children English and computers.
Christopher Baan, 19, a resident of Zeist in the Netherlands, completed his schooling last year and decided to do something for the world before pursuing higher studies. The quest has now brought him to India. 'I had always wanted to travel around the world. The idea of a cycle tour which would also help generate funds for a noble cause clicked then,' said Baan, who arrived in this Orissa capital last week after traversing Bihar. Baan had saved some money while working in the postal department in the Netherlands. His family members, sponsor companies and Chlemverjet, a social organisation, pitched in to fund his journey. In India, while travelling through the holy city of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, he came across a school run by the NGO Ashraya at Nagwa that lacked a computer. Baan immediately parted with about 2,000 euro from his sponsors' funds to buy a computer for the school with 30 students.
'The major thing I've done in Ashraya is to look for a possibility for investing the money in a good and sustainable way,' Baan told IANS.'The school staff was naturally pleased to hear my plans. So we went along with a local computer wizard named Yacoob Yawar to purchase the first computer for the school.'Before I came to India, my dream was to teach English and computers to young children here, but how can I do this without speaking Hindi, the first language in Varanasi? I will learn the language,' he said. 'I want to generate more funds (for children) during my cycle tour, which I started on Nov 18, exactly a month after my arrival in India.
'While cycling, Baan seeks donations from people. One can choose to sponsor his excursion for a kilometre. 'Even a penny...or only a half penny by kilometre is welcome,' said Baan, who plans to cycle about 5,000 km before March.The youngest son of a priest and a delivery centre employee, Baan has fond memories of his cycle trip in India so far.
'The police in Bihar arranged for a jeep and escorted me. I felt like a political leader,' he said.Baan plans to travel to the pilgrim city of Puri and then to neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, where he hopes to interact with victims of the 1984 Bhopal gas leak that killed more than 10,000 people.
Source: http://www.icfdc.com/html/newsarchives/external/icfdc_External_20051219_a.html
