Walk 26 miles for the 260 million children not in school

Walk 26 miles for the 260 million children not in school

Global children’s charity Theirworld is challenging people to walk 26 miles this June to raise urgently needed funds for the 260 million children around the world currently missing out on school.

Walkers can complete the Theirworld Your Walk challenge however they like – in one day, a weekend, a week or across the month. They can walk when and wherever they want, alone, in a couple or in a group of friends.

All money raised will go directly towards Theirworld’s mission to end the global education crisis and ensure that every child has the best start in life, a safe place to learn and skills for the future.

Even before the devastating effects of the pandemic on global education, 260 million children were out of school.

If we take no action by 2030, 825 million children—half of all young people—will lack the most basic skills necessary to find work.

By taking part in the walk, supporters will be offering vulnerable and marginalised children all over the world – including refugees – a vital lifeline, and a chance of a better future.

Sarah Brown, Chair of Theirworld, said:

“Education is the key that unlocks opportunities not just for children but for everyone. It drives healthier, greener, fairer and wealthier societies.

“Even before Covid-19 shut classrooms around the world, there were 260 million children who were not in school. The fact that millions of children around the world still have no access to school should horrify us all.

“But we have a chance to act now. Join me and the Theirworld team in taking up this challenge and we can all take a stand on behalf of the world’s most vulnerable children.”

How fundraising will help

Every penny raised from the walk will support Theirworld’s mission to end the global education crisis.

Money raised from the walk will help children like Nilia Soleimani who was just a toddler when she was forced to leave her home in Afghanistan with her mother, Shima.

Life hasn’t been easy for Nilia. Child refugees often find it difficult to interact and socialise with others. Away from their family and friends, in a country where they don’t speak the language, they often become withdrawn and struggle to communicate.

But thanks to Theirworld’s Heal Together project, which provides early childhood services to refugee families in Greece, Nilia is thriving.

“Ever since I started taking Nilia [to the Heal Together centre], she is very happy and more sociable,” Nilia’s mother, Shima, says. “It is very good for kids to be in a community. They’ll learn how to be together; they’ll learn to play group games together, to be kind to each other. In the end, they’ll grow to be more sociable.”

Prisca, from Congo, who attends the centre with her daughter Happiness, says she has noticed a big change in a short time.

“When she comes home from school, she tells me what they’ve shown her. She shows me what the teacher taught her. I’m happy,” she says.

How to participate

Those wishing to participate just need to follow three steps:

  1. Sign up and set up a fundraising page.
  2. Share your fundraising page with family and friends.
  3. Complete the challenge in June! Track your miles on Strava or manually on your fundraising page.