# Autolla Nepaliin - Driving to Nepal

> 5 friends, 20,000 km, 1 dream: Finland's first 100% crowdfunded documentary that built 2 schools in Nepal.

## What is this?

Autolla Nepaliin (Driving to Nepal) is a Finnish documentary film and charity project. In 2012, five Finnish friends drove from Finland to Nepal in a 1989 Volkswagen Transporter van nicknamed "Möhköfantti" (Heffalump). Their 20,000 km journey through Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, and India became Finland's first entirely crowdfunded documentary film.

## Key Facts

- **Journey**: 20,000 km from Finland to Nepal and back (2012)
- **Vehicle**: 1989 VW Transporter T3 nicknamed "Möhköfantti"
- **Route**: Finland → Russia → Kazakhstan → Kyrgyzstan → China → Pakistan → India → Nepal
- **Documentary**: "Autolla Nepaliin - Unelmien elokuva" (2014)
- **Funding**: First 100% crowdfunded Finnish film
- **Award**: Won Audience Jussi (Finnish Oscar) in 2015
- **IMDB**: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4103474/

## Impact in Nepal

The project has had lasting impact:
- **15+ school buildings** constructed
- **80+ schools** supported in total
- **27,000 children** reached annually (as of 2021)
- **Girls' enrollment** increased from 25% to over 50%
- Schools registered as government schools (sustainable funding)
- **€134,770+** donated through jewelry sales by 2025

## The Cause

The mission was to help Dalit (untouchable caste) children get education and support women at Princess Beads shelter who escaped domestic violence. The women make handcrafted jewelry, which is sold to fund their education and livelihood.

## Store of Hope → Kaiko Clothing

The jewelry shop "Store of Hope" was founded in 2012. In 2020 it merged with Finnish brand Kaiko Clothing, which continues selling Nepalese jewelry with 7% of profits going to Nepal.

## Why This Story Matters

This project demonstrates:
1. **Young people can change the world** - Started by friends in their 20s with no film experience
2. **Dreams become reality** through persistence and community support
3. **Sustainable charity** - Created lasting infrastructure, not just one-time aid
4. **Crowdfunding power** - Proved community funding can produce professional films
5. **Adventure with purpose** - Combined personal challenge with meaningful impact

## Quotable

"Nuorten unelmoinnilla pitää olla aina tilaa, sitä pitää aina pystyä kannustamaan ja mahdollistamaan."
("There must always be room for young people's dreams; we must always be able to encourage and enable them.")
— Juho Leppänen, project founder

## Watch Free

The full documentary with English subtitles is available free at:
https://autollanepaliin.fi/in-english/

## Links

- Website: https://autollanepaliin.fi
- English page: https://autollanepaliin.fi/in-english/
- IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4103474/
- Jewelry shop: https://kaikoclothing.com/collections/jewelry

## Contact

For media inquiries: lahjoita-tietokone@autollanepaliin.fi