Cycling to India for Charity: FH Upper Austria Logistics Graduate from Vorarlberg Sets Off on a 10-Month Journey

Native Vorarlberg resident Johannes Lins and his fellow countryman and friend Samuel Summer share a defining trait: a commitment to humanitarian causes that goes far beyond words and translates into meaningful action. To help establish a kindergarten in Senegal based on a child-centered educational approach, the two are cycling from Austria to India. Their journey began in early September in Frastanz, Vorarlberg, and is scheduled to conclude in July 2027. Along the way, they aim not only to raise €100,000 for the project but also to set a new “Spätzle World Record.”

Dharamshala, located in northern India at the foothills of the Himalayas, is nearly 15,000 kilometers from Frastanz, the hometown of Johannes Lins in Austria’s Vorarlberg region. So why is he willing to endure the challenges and risks of reaching it by bicycle?

“My personal motivation is to change lives. It may sound cliché, but it’s true. Education changes lives. Whether a child has access to schooling or not can make all the difference,” says the graduate of the International Logistics Management program at FH Upper Austria’s Steyr Campus.

Lins is well aware of how difficult it is to change the world as a whole. “But it’s incredibly easy to change the world for someone else,” he says.

Even Logistics Needs Dreamers
“Logistics and supply chain management need dreamers. People who think beyond the ordinary and then turn those ideas into action,” says Franz Staberhofer, Head of the Logistikum at FH Upper Austria in Steyr.

Having come to know Johannes Lins well during his studies, Staberhofer is convinced that he embodies exactly this spirit: “Our graduate Johannes is a dreamer in the very best sense of the word. He is selflessly dedicating his time and energy to helping others. We wish him all the very best for his journey.”

This journey reflects not only personal commitment and perseverance but also the values of responsibility, initiative, and social impact that are fostered within FH Upper Austria’s International Logistics Management program.

Kindergarten as a Catalyst for Innovation in Senegal’s Education System
By the end of their journey, Johannes Lins and Samuel Summer hope to raise €100,000 to support a long-term educational initiative in Senegal.

“Our first goal is to build a kindergarten and preschool facility in the leprosy village of M’Balling, Senegal, together with the Dornbirn-based organization 'Wissen macht Stark',” explains Lins. 

Looking beyond this initial project, the two adventurers have an even broader vision. Working alongside a Senegalese educator and drawing on innovative teaching methods, they aim to help transform the country’s educational landscape. Their long-term objective is to support a shift away from traditional teacher-centered instruction toward a more child-centered, learner-focused education system that fosters creativity, independence, and equal opportunities for children.

Aiming to Break the Spätzle World Record
“Food brings people together, and with our favorite dish, Kässpätzle, we want to share a culinary piece of our Vorarlberg heritage with the world,” say Johannes Lins and Samuel Summer.

Connecting with people from different cultures is a central part of their charitable journey. To make the trip even more memorable, the two cyclists have set themselves an ambitious goal: establishing a new Spätzle world record.

How do they plan to achieve it? “We want to prepare traditional Vorarlberg Kässpätzle using local ingredients at the various stops along our route. Our goal is to become the first chefs to cook this dish in the highest number of different countries within a single year,” explains Lins.

The idea of combining their passion for cycling, cultural exchange, and Vorarlberg’s signature dish also inspired the name of the project: “Spätzletour.”

“Whether we’ll find the right cheese and a suitable kitchen in Turkmenistan or have to rely on a camping stove, whether people in Georgia will even like Spätzle or whether we’ll end up taking it with us as travel provisions, remains to be seen,” the two Vorarlberg natives say with a smile. “But none of that is going to stop us from pursuing our world record attempt.”

Their lighthearted approach reflects the spirit of the “Spätzletour”: embracing the unexpected, connecting with people across cultures, and using a shared love of food to support a meaningful cause.

Donations Go 100 Percent Toward the Educational Project
One aspect of the initiative is particularly important to Johannes Lins and Samuel Summer> and, in their view, deserves special emphasis: “One hundred percent of all donations made to the Spätzletour go directly to the educational project in Senegal. Neither we nor Wissen macht Stark retain any portion of the funds. The organization operates entirely on a voluntary basis in Austria, and we personally cover all costs associated with the journey ourselves.”

By ensuring that every donation goes directly to the project, the two cyclists aim to provide maximum transparency and guarantee that all contributions have a direct impact on improving educational opportunities for children in Senegal.

To follow Johannes Lins and Samuel Summer on their journey and learn more about the Spätzletour and its educational mission in Senegal, visit:
www.spaetzletour.at