AFTER witnessing the devastation caused by the April 2022 floods to schools, a kind-hearted man decided to embark on a charity journey to raise funds and sponsors to help them out and raise awareness about their plight.
Since January, Dale van Blerk has covered 1 830km on foot, walking from Johannesburg to Durban, the South Coast and many other places in between. He said he had planned to just walk the 600km from Johannesburg to Durban.
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“From the first step, I knew this journey would not be easy, but I was fuelled by a passion to make a difference. With every stride, I could feel the energy and excitement building as I journeyed through the beautiful South African landscape. I walked through small towns and bustling cities, and with each passing day, I felt myself growing stronger and more determined,” said Van Blerk.
Through his walking, he has seen the damage done by the floods to schools first-hand around Amanzimtoti and the rest of the province. Some of the schools that have benefited include the Durban School for the Hearing Impaired in Amanzimtoti, Umkhumbi High School in KwaMkhutha, Vumelethu High School near Umgababa, Mason Lincoln Special School, and Gillitts Primary School. Besides helping with revitalising the infrastructure, Van Blerk has arranged sponsorship of Jockey underwear for the learners.
Part of his mission entails helping needy schools by constructing new classrooms within a 14-day timeframe to provide a space for education and community growth, and facilitating community involvement in the building process to create a sense of ownership and pride in the new classrooms.
“I have walked to 30 schools so far in the second leg of my journey, and I will not stop until I have visited most schools in desperate need of help. My goal is to raise funds and awareness to build classrooms and equip them with smart technologies to improve the quality of education for these children sitting without facilities to be educated,” he said.
The journey has not been without challenges, but Van Blerk has taken it all in his stride as every step he takes brings him closer to his goal of creating a better future for these children.
“I am grateful for every donation and every person who has supported me on this journey, and I hope that my story will inspire others to take action and make a difference in their own communities,” he said.
He thanked all the sponsors for making the project possible.
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