Teacher walks to reduce poverty

A high school teacher from Geraldton is braving the heat to walk 100km this week, to help reduce the distance women and girls in developing countries have to walk for water.

Geraldton Grammar School teacher Belinda Quick is walking around 12km a day from March 8 to 14, as part of the Walk in Her Shoes Challenge.

The aim is to raise money for CARE Australia’s projects that help reduce the distance women and girls have to walk by providing clean water and nutritious food close to home.

This means girls can spend more time in school, women can earn an income and together they can help their communities step out of poverty.

The high school teacher said she was combining her love of education and fitness to raise awareness by walking a considerable distance to and from work every day to support women in developing countries.

“I want to truly put myself in someone else’s shoes,” she said.

Ms Quick is aiming to raise $1000 through sponsorship, which could help install a water pump in a community, shortening the distance that women and girls travel each day to collect water.

“Being a teacher I realise how important it is to educate people on the benefits that the right access to food and water has on a community,” she said.

Organisers expect 2016 to be the biggest year yet for the challenge with an estimated 5000 participants across Australia aiming to raise more than $1 million.

CARE Australia chief executive Dr Julia Newton-Howes said in developing countries, women and girls were often the most disadvantaged members of poor communities.

“In poor countries, women have to walk an average of six kilometres every day, many carrying around 15-20 litres of water per trip,” she said.

“Sadly for far too many women and girls, this daily burden of walking to collect water, food or firewood means they miss out on going to school or having the chance to earn an income.

“For Australians to walk a few extra kilometres a day during the Walk in Her Shoes Challenge it will mean a lifetime of benefits to thousands of women and girls in some of the world’s poorest countries.”

Those looking to start their own challenge or donate to Ms Quick’s effort should visit walkinhershoes.org.au.