Love’s Long Legs

It’s a long way from Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Rochedale to the Displaced Person’s Camp in Kismayu, Somalia.

About 12,000 kilometres as the crow flies.

The community at Our Saviour began bridging that gap by walking 26 kilometres in their own ALWS (Australian Lutheran World Service) Walk My Way.

Their goal? To raise $16,000 to support 100 children in Somalia to go to school, and receive the practical lifesaving help through ALWS that would enable them to start life again after the horror of war and drought.

Aamiina (pictured) is one of Somalia’s children and young people who have already helped by the efforts of Queenslanders through Our Saviour.

 Aamiina, together with her parents, fled war and drought in search for food, shelter and clothing:

“Life was unbearable. We did not have food and shelter. Our children were sleeping under sacks without any blanket. I had to help mother, to keep our young sibling safe when she is away, in search of a living for the family.”

A bunch of walkers approach the 5.5km checkpoint. Photo credit: ALWS.

When her family reached the Internally Displaced Person’s camp, Aamiina was enrolled in an Accelerated Learning program to catch up on the school she’d missed out on. The program is supported by ALWS partner, LWF (Lutheran World Federation).

“I was able to benefit from many services, such as free school uniform, teaching and learning materials, clean water, sanitary pad and sanitation facilities,” she said.

Being able to go to school empowered Aamiina to become a “change agent”. She now hopes to work in education, so more children – especially girls – can go to school and become leaders in her country: “I am delighted to LWF/ALWS for making my dream true and fulfilling my wishes in education. I thank you for your contribution in supporting us all in accessing education.”

More than 60 Walkers joined Our Saviour ALWS Walk My Way.

Robin Kleinschmidt takes a rest at the checkpoint. Photo credit: ALWS.

By stepping out together, they now support 100 children like Aamiina to step in to school. No longer are these children at risk of being forgotten by the world. Instead, they are supported in school for six months, to:

• receive a high energy school lunch each day
• have clean water to protect against COVID and disease
• give girls the extra support they need in a country where too often they suffer worst
• support teachers to work in the most drought-affected villages
• support families with food staples such as rice, wheat flour, sugar, dates, powdered milk and vegetable oil

While many legs were sore after the Our Saviour Walk My Way, walkers have already raised $15,140! You can support their efforts to bring love to life across those 12,000 kilometres, and support 100 Somalia children to go to school for the next six months:  Walk My Way 2022 – Our Saviour.