Walkers prevent poverty

Lauren Buell

The seventh annual Dallas Partnership Walk Oct. 14 is an event intended to raise awareness about global poverty and funds to support international aid programs implemented by organizer Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A. (AKF USA).

Representatives of the AKF USA expect 10,000 people will participate in the Dallas Partnership Walk at Dallas City Hall Plaza. Annual Partnership Walk events in five major U.S. cities aim to raise money and awareness to combat global poverty and are expected to draw more than 50,000 participants this year.

Zahara Hussain, a senior majoring in finance, first volunteered with the Dallas Partnership Walk 10 years ago.

“I’m a senior, and working with the Partnership Walk is one way I can give back. My main job is to spread the word on campus. This year is the 25th anniversary of AKF in the United States – It’s a big milestone for them, and they wanted to get more college students involved with the Partnership Walk,” Hussain said.

Hussain said all funds raised through the Partnership Walk go directly to projects supported by the Foundation. AKF USA and contributors cover administrative costs and the expense of the events.

Each Partnership Walk site has an opening ceremony, entertainment and informational booths. A working model of a village demonstrates the AKF USA’s approach to aid. Donor funds are used to provide tools, including agricultural machinery and equipment for digging wells.

“Instead of giving food, AKF’s goal is to teach people how to survive. The village in action at the Partnership Walk lets people actually see the problems they have and what they’re going to do about them,” Hussain said. “It’s amazing to find out what $10-$20 can do in the rest of the world, when it’s an amount we might take for granted here.”

AKF USA is a nonprofit, non-denominational international development organization. The website for Partnership Walk, partnershipwalk.org, said the AKF USA focuses on alleviating poverty in Asia and Africa with a grassroots approach intended to strengthen local problem-solving and resources. Over the last decade, 30 walks in cities across the U.S. have attracted 212,000 people and raised more than $26 million for AKF USA’s projects.

Organizations and teams can contact Zaira Valliani at valliani_zaira@hotmail.com to register. Individuals can register the morning of the walk, or can find information about individual registration, volunteer opportunities and donations is available at www.partnershipwalk.org.

Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at Dallas