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Three hundred refugee children in East Africa will go to school for a year thanks to the wonderful support of the LLL-hosted Walk My Way event.
LLL CEO Ross Smith and Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand (LCANZ) Bishop Paul Smith led the charge as LLL staff and friends stepped out in support of our Platinum Partners Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS) for our Friends of North Adelaide Walk My Way fundraising event on Friday, 22 November.
Walk with a purpose
With temperatures hovering in the high 30s, the group set off from LLL's Archer Street, North Adelaide South Australia, offices for a 5-kilometre walk with a purpose that took in Colonel Light's statue, iconic Adelaide Oval, and the River Torrens pedestrian bridge.
The picturesque stroll along the Torrens wound back through North Adelaide golf course and ended at the Wellington Hotel where walkers exchanged stories in a wonderful atmosphere of fellowship.
Thanks to the generous support and missional hearts of donors, $7,800 was raised for ALWS, with LLL Board Director Geoff Thiel our leading fundraiser. It costs just $26 to send a child to school for a year in East Africa, with education the key to escaping poverty.
"I'm walking because if you want to change the world … educate a child," Ross said in his pre-walk address.
"If you want to help alleviate poverty … educate a child.
"If you want to create a more equal world … educate a child.
"I don't think there's a single problem in the world that can't be helped by educating children, especially in places where it's more difficult to do that."
Missional partnerships
We were honoured to be joined by representatives from a range of Lutheran organisations, including ALWS, Lutheran Education SA, NT & WA (LESNW), the LCA, and Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Magill.
"I thank God that LLL is doing this because it will end up with people in need around the world receiving support that they really need," Bishop Paul said.
"ALWS becomes the way by which LLL and the people on this walk can help.
"It's wonderful.
"I've walked numerous Walk My Ways so this was a good opportunity to join in because it's not just about raising money, it's also celebrating being together too.
"Every Walk My Way I've done it has just been a wonderful crowd and people have enjoyed it right across the board.
"It's just jolly good fun and I'd encourage anyone who gets a chance to do it."
ALWS makes a truly meaningful difference in the lives of so many people, with more than 62,500 refugee children supported to go to school since the first Walk My Way in 2019.
"When we step out, we help children step into education in refugee camps and all sorts of communities where ALWS works," ALWS representative Julie Krause said.
"Education is something that can't be taken away from a child; it's portable, it goes with them.
"It is a ticket out of poverty to have an education."
Photos: The LLL-hosted Walk My Way event raised vital funds in support of ALWS's work to enable refugee children in East Africa get an education.
