Driving through seventeen European countries in 24 hours. It seems impossible, but Anil Kumar (30) from The Hague will attempt to set the world record for road tripping on October 18. Without a sleep break, but with a supply of Red Bulls in his car. With the campaign he draws attention to human trafficking.
A day without sleep, driving on the roads of Europe. The aim of the organization Project Pashmina with the road trip is to bring human trafficking to the attention of young people. It is a subject that touches organizer and creator Anil Kumar personally. “It’s something that runs in my family. A puzzle that I am still looking for myself.”
But how do you go from a fight against human trafficking to a journey through all those countries? That link was easily made. At Project Pashmina, the road trips symbolize the stories of victims, who are traded along routes all over the world. A literal road trip. “Trade routes, human trade. Yes, that link was quickly established. And there is a broader concept behind it. We convert life stories into routes. Next year we will try to recruit three teams of young people who will follow the path of a victim of human trafficking for a week. In this way they get deeper and deeper into the life of such a person.”
The record is secondary. It’s about the conversations along the way and that we reach people
The tour starts on Sunday 17 October on the European Day Against Human Trafficking at 11 p.m. in Eijsden, South Limburg. The final goal 24 hours later is Romania. In between, Kumar drives through Germany, France, Austria and Hungary. Along the way, Kumar speaks through live sessions on Instagram with influencers and experts. Like professional football player Eljero Elia. “The record is secondary. It’s about the conversations along the way and that we reach people.”
The thirty-year-old has been politically active in The Hague for a number of years. Since then I have been committed to the fight against human trafficking. It is such a great injustice that we know relatively little about. The known numbers are the tip of the iceberg. And you notice it doesn’t really land within our generation. It is not clear to many people the extent of this injustice. And that is what we want to achieve with this action: show the stories behind the survivors with the road trip. And bring the numbers closer through Instagram.”
Sustainable
By the way, if you think about the amount of emissions that are released during the journey through Europe: they are compensated. “We have calculated the amount. This was converted into a donation of trees and greenery via a website.” The trip is therefore sustainable.
First survive the 24 hours behind the wheel. Kumar is an experienced rider. He has been driving for many hours in a row before and can wake up on any Saturday morning and decide to drive to Switzerland. Still, 24 hours on the road is also his first time on the road. “The most important thing is that I go well rested. I will also pray a lot. And I have a cameraman sitting next to me as a co-driver. I hope he keeps me on track with good stories. From deeply philosophical to hopelessly trivial.” A visit to a supermarket is also planned. “I’ll bring some Red Bulls.”
Kumar thinks the eighteenth hour will be the hardest. “Then your body thinks it’s bedtime and I still have about six hours to go from Hungary to Romania.” He keeps it accountable. So falling asleep at the wheel is not going to happen. “If I get too tired, I stop. Or do I say to the co-driver: ‘It’s all nice and nice, but you drive’. It’s about our purpose. Of course I hope it will work. But one traffic jam and then it can be over.”
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