Over a thousand people are expected to swap their traditional Sunday roast for an unusual walk around the River Thames on 15 April 2012 to raise money for water projects in disadvantaged African coffee-producing communities.
‘The Big Challenge’, the first 10 kilometre sponsored walk of its kind in London, will see participants carry up to 10 litres of water for 5 kilometres, representing the difficult task of fetching water undertaken daily by African women and children.
Jeffrey Young, Chairman of Allegra Foundation which is organising the event, said walkers will experience first-hand what life is like for many people in the world.
“Carrying up to 10 litres of water for 5 kilometres might be a ‘big challenge’ for us, but this type of journey is a daily ritual for 1 in 8 people worldwide who do not have water readily available ,” Mr Young said.
“In rural Africa, women and children spend hours each day walking through rugged terrain to collect water for their families. Not only does this prevent children from attending school and adults from working, but the water brought back is often dirty, polluted and unsafe to drink.”
“The Big Challenge will raise awareness of this need and funds for these communities to have access to clean water—a basic human right,” Mr Young said.
All money raised will go directly to Project Waterfall, Allegra Foundation’s charitable initiative delivering sustainable clean water projects in Tanzania’s Mbulu District in partnership with WaterAid.
The Big Challenge is the official launch event of UK Coffee Week™ being held from 23-29 April 2012. UK Coffee Week is the nation’s largest charitable celebration of coffee that unites the coffee industry while raising money for Project Waterfall.
The week includes coffee shop products with charitable donations and in-store activities; a national media programme; new fundraising initiatives such as The Big Challenge and Coffee@Work which invites workplace employees to make a donation towards hot beverages made at work during the week; and public events, including The London Coffee Festival being held from 27-29 April 2012.
Final version for online listings
Take part in The Big Challenge, a sponsored 10Km (6.2 miles) walk along the River Thames on Sunday 15 April 2012 to raise funds for sustainable clean water projects in African coffee-producing countries. Participants will carry up to 10L of water for the final 5Km of the walk to represent the difficult daily task of fetching water undertaken by African women and children.
The walk is the official pre-launch event of UK Coffee Week™ 2012 being held from 23-29 April.
Funds raised will support Project Waterfall, the charitable initiative currently delivering clean water projects in Tanzania in partnership with WaterAid.
Register now to take part in The Big Challenge. (at http://www.ukcoffeeweek.com/
I was not going to read this article but the photo with that young,dusty fella,infront of a tape water caught my attention....I changed my mind...I decided to go thru the article.I come from Muleba district,Kagera region.Kagera region is(used to be?) one of the coffee producer in Tanzania.I am not an expert on this field but can contribute a little bit,citing Muleba district as a classical example.This space is too small,for me,to give out my thoughts. In short,"THE WALK" will not solve water problems in Tanzania,that is four sure.We need more than that.
ReplyDeleteDavid V
David V,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you. We will need five centuries to solve water problems by "walking for it".
anonymous 1 & 2, lets not give up so quickly the walk is just the begining so that all of us can be awakened about the water problems in our cities let alone our villages I also come from Kagera region(Muleba North district), the sad part is we are sorounded by water why is it so hard for us to have running water is it the government's fault or the people of Kagera ourselves? I believe if we all come together we can solve this problem. so please let us not discount the walk.
ReplyDeleteHe wadau andikeni kwa lugha yetu ya kiswahili na sisi tupate kuelewa jamani.
ReplyDeleteAu kwa kuwa munatoka kule kwa nshomile ndiyo mumeamua kututambia kwa kizungu?
Mada imekuja kwa kidhungu unategemea majibu yaje kwa lugha yako....hii ni blog usikae kulaumu ukadhani watu wakisema wanatko BK ukadhani wanatoka huko kweli..!!umeliwa
ReplyDeletewadau nimeipenda hii idea na napenda kuonyesha uungaji mkono wangu ila tu napenda kujua kama tukio kama hili laweza kutokea hapa kwetu Tanzania na nipo tayari kushiriki
ReplyDelete