Walk the World 2008
On June 1st – International Children’s Day – thousands of children who know what it feels like to be hungry took to the streets, together with TNT- and Unilever-employees, their families and friends. From Indonesia to Guatemala, more than 250,000 people in 70 countries walked for the sixth successive year across 24 time zones within 24 hours to combat Child Hunger.
- 250,000 participants
- 280 locations in 70 countries
- Over US$1 million raised
- 20,000 children fed and educated for a year
Together, we raised over US$1 million for the WFP which will be used to provide thousands of hungry children with school meals which will encourage them to attend school. Relentless hikes in food prices – a ‘silent tsunami’ which affect millions of the poor and hungry – in addition to the recent natural disasters in Myanmar and China made this year’s Walk more important than ever.
Walk the World delivers a strong message that hungry children in school should not be forgotten, especially in this time of high food prices an hardship. This year’s Walk the World inspired many to raise awareness of this dreadful situation. – John Powell, Deputy Executive Director WFP
Like last year, the global event was organised by WFP, TNT, and Unilever. TNT participated in 63 countries and in most of them they acted as major organisers.
Walks of all sorts and sizes took place in more than 250 locations. In Indonesia, 12,000 people walked against Child Hunger, including families who have been affected by the inflated food prices. TNT, together with WFP, Unilever and some local sponsors, organised a pop concert featuring ten of Indonesia’s most popular bands which was broadcast on national television. In Tanzania, 12,000 participants walked in five locations across the country. Among the walkers in Kenya were 400 children who receive School Feeding meals, each holding a red cup used by WFP to give them their regular meals. Despite heavy rains, Japan doubled its number of participants who took part in 2007. On of the walkers was Dai Watanabe, one of the most famous young actors in Japan.
Walks also took place in 25 European countries in 70 locations around landmarks such as Windsor castle in the UK, Cologne Cathedral in Germany, Plac Pilsudskiego in Poland and the little Mermaid monument in Denmark.
Walk the World is the event to raise awareness for all the children who suffer from hunger every day. At TNT we believe that hunger is not acceptable in today's world. I am proud that so many employees, their families and friends on all continents of the world have actively taken part in this Walk to show their solidarity and to raise funds to give these children the daily meal they deserve. – Peter Bakker, CEO of TNT
Walk the World 2009 will be on June 7th!
Photo gallery 2008
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September 1st, 2010, Trine Jensen
August 18th, 2010, Rose van Steijn
August 9th, 2010, Jen Janice