By Merritt Frey, Executive Director

This May, people around the U.S. will take a walk – forty miles worth of a walk – with Miles for Mali. With each step, they’ll help a child in Mali improve their life through the power of education.

Miles for Mali is a new virtual walking challenge, which allows participants to walk whenever it is convenient throughout the month of May. Walkers sign up to walk the distance a child in Mali walks to get to school each week, but walkers get a month to cover the distance. (Over-achievers can challenge themselves to walk the full month’s distance – 160 miles – if they prefer.) Learn more about Miles for Mali. 

Walkers will support the construction of a school for children in the tiny village of Sankama, Mali. Currently, the nearest middle schools are a three- or six-mile walk one-way for the children of Sankama. This means about 90 percent of children are forced to drop out of school after sixth grade. Without an education, these great kids face a terribly limited future of poverty, poor health outcomes, and instability.

Walkers will join a virtual community of support and learning. Prizes are available for individuals and teams who raise the most funds or cover the greatest distance. Walkers who raise $100 or more will be entered to win the right to name the new school!

We especially encourage work groups, families, youth groups, and others to join Miles for Mali as a team. This is a great team building activity. Teams can keep each other motivated and compete against other teams for prizes for distance covered and pledges raised.

Learn more about Miles for Mali or just go ahead and register right now!