Women on their bike taxis were the biggest inspiration behind MOWO’s vision of involving more women in mobility in India.
“Their presence gave me immense clarity and grounded my vision further. I knew this was my purpose”
- Jai Bharathi
ABOUT US > ORIGIN
FEBRUARY 2018
Jai Bharathi, Mowo's founder, set out on a first-of-its-kind cross-country motorcycle expedition to five countries from India to – Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia to Vietnam, and back – covering 17000 km in 56 days,
This trip was the inspiration for MOWO .
JB'S STORY
After crossing our second foreign land border in Myanmar, we entered Thailand where we had to face an exhausting six hours paperwork at immigration. Hungry and tired, we stopped to binge on some street food. Across the road, I saw a group of women, most of whom were in their 40s & 50s, standing at a junction with their scooters.
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These ladies were bike taxi operators. I spoke to them, sought permission, and clicked a picture of theirs because it was a significant and powerful takeaway from my expedition. Because that's when I found my purpose.
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- Jai Bharathi
FEBRUARY 2019
A year later, MOWO was born - a social enterprise committed to getting more women on the streets, on their independent vehicles.
SRISHTI'S STORY
In 2017, 0n my walk from Kanyakumari to Srinagar, I met JB in Hyderabad. JB had just returned from her motorcycle expedition covering the same route. She knew the road I had and was to cover and the road is what connected us from the moment we got to know of each other.
As part of my outreach programs I visited a training camp where JB was conducting motor training sessions.
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At that camp I saw how balancing a scooter and revving a bike didn’t just give the women the ability to drive but much needed control over their lives. I knew, right then, I would be part of this in future.
Our journeys had a common mission and our path to the mission perfectly aligned where we both saw a dream of financially independent confident and happy women of India.
In 2021, I joined Mowo.
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- Srishti Bakshi
2017 - Srishti was part of creation of this art on her walk.
2021 - JB stopped by at the same wall on her ride across India.
SAFETY, EQUALITY & MOBILITY
With more women trained in driving two and three-wheelers, we will see more women occupying our public spaces. We will also witness more women access employment opportunities beyond the limited options that are currently available.
We are committed to creating a generation of confident women who are equipped with mobility as a skill for empowerment and employment.