A group of 16 inspirational Australians have arrived in rural Kenya for the 2017 Run from Poverty experience to support abandoned and orphaned children living in Africa.
The Run from Poverty experience is a unique fundraising initiative by the One Heart Foundation which raises funds to build schools, homes and provide care for children in Kenya.
From 16–26 July, participants will take part in a life-changing adventure that will push them outside of their comfort zones while they help to transform the lives of children in poverty.
Encompassing a variety of physical and mental challenges, participants will travel to remote locations to train for and complete a long distance run, visit local children’s shelters, lend a hand with a building project at the One Heart Children Village and witness an annual wildebeest migration.
Founder of the One Heart Foundation and partner at Melbourne-based architecture practice ClarkeHopkinsClarke, Dean Landy, said the event is a leadership and personal development opportunity like no other.
“This is the ultimate travel experience designed to challenge the mind, body and soul while making a real difference to the lives of hundreds of children living in poverty,” says Dean Landy.
“Now in its third year, Run from Poverty continues to raise much-needed funds to build more homes and classrooms for the 75 children in our care at the One Heart Children’s Village in Turbo, and contribute to our other projects in Kenya.”
Commencing in Nairobi, participants will travel to the world famous High Altitude Training Camp in Iten to immerse themselves in Kenya’s culture of long-distance running and prepare for their run which will depart from Turbo on 23 July.
While at the village, participants will also have the unique opportunity to personally meet the children benefitting from their fundraising efforts, and get hands-on with an important building project before a rewarding two-day safari experience in Masai Mara National Park.
“This extraordinary group of people are not only contributing their time and hard work to help us to expand the children’s village, but they’ve also raised an impressive $125,000 so far for the One Heart Foundation,” says Dean.
“The Run from Poverty experience is once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will push the group to achieve more than they ever thought possible, and see them return home with a whole new perspective on life and the positive impact we can make on the lives of others.”
Since its inauguration in 2015, Run from Poverty has raised over $400,000 and currently cares for 75 and educates 200 children. ClarkeHopkinsClarke are proud sponsors of the Run from Poverty event as the designers of the first children’s village and education facilities established by One Heart in Kenya.
Photo by Vlad Karavaev