Beyond the trail
Giving back at every stop
Every OAI route is planned with time built in to support the villages and communities that host our expeditions.
Initiative 01
Medical Camps
Many of the villages along our high-altitude and remote routes are a day's travel from the nearest clinic. On select expeditions, member-volunteer doctors and nurses set up free health check-up camps — basic diagnostics, medicine distribution, and referrals for anything more serious. Camps are announced to the local Panchayat in advance so as many residents as possible can attend.
Read more about Medical CampsInitiative 02
School Stationery Drives
Before major expeditions, chapters collect notebooks, pencils, bags and basic supplies from members and local donors. The convoy delivers them directly to schools that sit far off the highway — often the same schools our members' own children later hear about at chapter meets. We work with the schoolteachers to identify what's actually needed, rather than delivering a generic care package.
Read more about School Stationery Drives
Initiative 03
Winter Blanket Distribution
High-altitude and roadside communities face brutally cold winters, and blankets are one of the most requested items every year. Ahead of the coldest months, chapters run collection and purchase drives, then deliver blankets directly to families identified by local community leaders — prioritising the elderly, children and households without heating.
Read more about Winter Blanket DistributionInitiative 04
Women's Collective Support
Rather than treating trailside villages purely as recipients of aid, OAI convoys deliberately buy from local self-help groups — food, pickles, handwoven textiles and handicrafts made by women's collectives along the route. It's a small direct-purchase economy that turns every expedition into a bit of local income, not just a photo stop.
Read more about Women's Collective Support
Want to plan a service stop into your next route?
Chapter coordinators can help you connect with a village along your planned route — no expedition is too small to make a stop worthwhile.