Rwanda, Jersey unite for virtual charity walk to support girls’ education

Schools in Rwanda are set to join islanders in Jersey for a virtual 19-mile (30.6km) charity walk to raise funds for girls’ education in East Africa.

The Virtual North Coast Challenge, organized in partnership with Hands Around The World Jersey, will take place on Sunday, covering the route from St. Catherine’s to Grosnez in Jersey, while nine schools in Bugarama, Rwanda, will walk a similar distance to show their appreciation for past support.

This joint effort follows a summer initiative where 12 teachers from Jersey traveled to Bugarama to provide education for 400 marginalized children. “Our friends and partners in Bugarama want to show their appreciation for the assistance they have received to improve teaching and learning conditions in their schools by joining in with us on the same day,” said Mike Haden, chair of Hands Around The World.

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The funds raised from the walk will support the charity’s ongoing project to improve girls’ education in Rwanda. Girls in rural areas face significant barriers, with at least 20% missing up to 50 days of school annually due to menstruation-related issues. The charity aims to build girls’ hygiene rooms in nine schools, equipped with a counselling area, bedroom, shower, and toilet, along with providing sanitary products and training school matrons.

The collaboration between Jersey and Rwanda underscores the power of community-driven initiatives, with participants walking not only to raise money but also to “show solidarity” with the young girls striving for education under challenging conditions.