R E L I E F   R I D E R S   I N T E R N A T I O N A L
Read about Relief Riders International's founder, Alexander Souri's perspective on "Voluntourism and the business of owning a company with a humanitarian focus" in the Examiner



Experience our Alumni Riders perspective and experience on our Relief Rides



Ride with us through the Dunes on our February 2014 Bikaner Relief Ride



Join us on our Relief Riders International Facebook page where you can be an interactive part of our social media campaign, as well as view more images and videos of our work.



Portrait of a Global Humanitarian



Read about us in The Sydney Morning Herald, Australia leading newspaper



Ride with us to Bikaner February 2013



Watch a new video of our Pediatric program



Watch Relief Riders International's Give a Goat program at work.



Read recent reviews of our Relief Rides on Much Better Adventures.



"In my field of travel writing, the description 'life-changing' is bandied about loosely, but I could not be more sincere when I say this trip (February 2007 Nagaur Relief Ride) changed my life." (read more)
-- Andrew Mersmann, author of Frommer's "500 Places Where You Can Make a Difference"



Relief Riders International
P. O. Box 615
Great Barrington, MA
01230

(413) 329-5876



May 12th, 2013


Dear Friends-

Our maiden Pushkar Relief Ride was marked with success as we rode on a breathtaking itinerary from the ancient 16th century Khimsar Fort, perched on the edge of the Thar desert to the world's largest gathering of Marwari horses and camels.

Riding through rural Rajasthan during India's most reverent and auspicious lunar period made for a spiritually charged and festive ambience with vibrant and serendipitous meetings all along the way to the Pushkar Fair.






Serendipitous tribal meetings and developing a new pediatric program

Nomadic Rebari tribal members herding their
camels to the Pushkar Fair.
Upon hearing of the work we were performing in the schools, a group of nomadic tribal elders came to our camp, and performed a traditional Puja (Blessing) ceremony for all of our riders. A generous and remarkable experience it was for all of us.

We were able to visit 6 schools and offer 1200 children vitamins, educational materials, and lessons in hand washing, a life saving measure for children in rural Rajasthan.

One of the positive changes that we saw on the ride was a new pilot program initiated by the Indian government, re-starting their pre-existing de-worming program that had lapsed for more than 10 years. RRI has provided
de-worming medication to over 20,000 children in Rajasthan during this 10 year period.

Given the possible obsolescence of our de-worming program, Dr. Arora and I are currently in development of a new program that would provide hearing aids to children suffering from hearing loss in the rural areas of Rajasthan.

Women waiting to be driven to the Kshetrapal Eye Hospital in Ajmer, Rajastan.


Free eye and Dental camp update in Alniyawas, Rajasthan

Our free eye and dental camp was met with equal success, screening a total of 351 patients. Offering the 25 patients who qualified free eye surgeries, and treating 86 patients for eye ailments. Our dental team provided treatments consisting of root canals, fillings, extractions, minor dental surgeries and scalings for a 141 patients.


Life at the Fair

Our experiences at the Pushkar Fair on horseback and off were an electric mix of colorful spiritual celebrations, fiery equestrian competitions and auctions, unique and traditional performances highlighting Rajasthani culture. A memorable cultural and sensory experience. One that only India can offer you.


Maharaja Guj Singh of Jodhpur with one of the prize winning horses at the Pushkar Fair. November 2012


Join us on what promises to be a fantastic journey through the Desert of Rajasthan to the Pushkar fair.


2013 Relief Rides

November 2013 Pushkar Relief Ride: 5-19 November 2013


2013 Relief Rides

February 2014 Bikaner Relief Ride: 2-15 February 2013

February/March 2014 Chanod Relief Ride: Feb 25th - March 10th, 2014



Hope you enjoy the pictures below of the people we met, and the places we visited while on our ride to the fair. Wishing all of you a warm and productive spring.

Sincerely,

Alexander Souri


"Consider yourself miraculous" -- Anonymous






























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