Walkathon to Raise Funds for Kenyan Girls

Early next year, women from around the world will embark on an epic Walkathon to raise funds for young women in Kenya.

BEADS for Education has announced the third annual Walkathon from January 2 - 18, 2008. The 100 km walk (62 miles) aims to raise $50,000 to support HIV/AIDS training, human rights, and environmental conservation in the Kajiado District of Kenya near Amboseli National Park.

BEADS for Education is a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the status of women in Kenya through girls' education and women's business development. The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) has been a partner of BEADS since 2003.

Last year's Walkathon raised more than $30,000 which went directly to:

Promoting new sponsorships to educate more girls

Continuing career counseling and college placement program

HIV/AIDS training for local communities

Hosting 'Coming of Age Ceremonies' without traditional female genital mutilation practices

Expanding teacher training workshops and library development

Raising global awareness for girls' education and human rights in Kenya

Linking sponsored girls with each other to provide mentors and role models

Posting 'teaching interns' in 3 public schools (Amboseli, Isinya and Samburu regions)

Completing BEADS house which provides a secure site for the Kenyan office, visitor lodging, interns residence and beading workshop.

This year, the Walkathon will be bigger and brighter than ever, and BEADS hopes to draw more walkers from the U.S. and Europe than ever before. Kenyan walkers include college students, 8th grade girls, Maasai mothers, fathers, teachers, and community leaders.

If you are interested in participating in the Walkathon to help improve the lives of hundreds of young Kenyan women, visit www.beadsforeducation.org