Saturday, May 26, 2007
VANCOUVER – The World Partnership Walk to fight global poverty is set for Sunday in Stanley Park. More than 5,000 people are expected to attend. This year’s theme is education.
“One way to get people to empower themselves is [through] education,” said walk convener Alnoor Tejpar.
According to walk organizers the Aga Khan Foundation Canada, funds raised go towards health, education, rural development and community empowerment in countries in Africa and Asia. The foundation and its partners run such programs in 29 countries.
The first Vancouver walk, which is one of nine similar events across Canada, took place in 1985.
University of B.C. president Stephen Toope will be the walk’s guest of honour, in keeping with its education theme.
Another area of interest is microfinance, in which funds are provided to “empower women” in countries such as Afghanistan, and to farmers to find alternatives to controversial cash crops. “Instead of growing poppies, they can grow wheat,” says Tejpar.
With regard to this year’s theme, Tejpar said 6,000 women have been trained in early childhood development education since 1986 in countries such as Kenya, Uganda and India.
Walk organizers are confident they will make more money this year than last, when $1.5 million was raised. Total funds raised across Canada were $4.8 million.
Premier Gordon Campbell, Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan and Vancouver Canucks defenceman Brent Sopel will be among the participants.
The walk starts at Lumbermen’s Arch at 11 a.m.
Ismailimail 