[imagesource:twitter/kindnessbuilds]

While many public South African figures are all talk when it comes to issues like student debt, Professor Thuli Madonsela, the former Public Protector of South Africa and the current Director of the Chair for Social Justice at Stellenbosch University (SU), is proving she is one to actually ‘walk the talk’.

The SU Professor is embarking on a 300km walk across the Western Cape to raise funds for the #Action4Inclusion initiative, a project that aims to eliminate financial barriers in education by addressing historical student debt.

Madonsela’s journey, known as the Pilgrimage of Hope, will take her along a route from Stellenbosch to Cape Agulhas. This particular trail, founded in 2014 by Dr. Frederick Marais from Communitas, is reminiscent of the epic Camino pilgrimage in Spain.

The pilgrimage traverses diverse landscapes, including mountains, farmlands, and beaches, all while connecting with various communities. You don’t get much better scenery than this stretch of Western Cape magnificence. Sorry not sorry Camino, I may be biased but I choose the rolling hills of our Cape Coast.

Madonsela aims to raise an ambitious minimum of R3 million through crowdfunding for the project.

The journey will commence on August 19 and 20, where Madonsela and her companions will walk around 35km over two days from Stellenbosch to Franschhoek. This launch weekend is open to the public, but get your tickets now because there are limited spots for this great opportunity.

The rest of the hike, from Franschhoek to Cape Agulhas, will take place from October 14 to 26 this year. Madonsela will be joined by entrepreneurs, thought leaders, CEOs, and other participants who share her passion for the cause.

Through this great trek, Madonsela aims not only to raise funds but also to foster unity, friendship, and hope across South Africa. It’s not all about the cash, according to the former stateswoman, but also about what it means to travel in this way together:

“We’re living in a time that has been described by author Mark Leonard as ‘the age of unpeace’. We’re not at war, we’re not at peace, but so many things are being done that divides us … Our diversity should not be a basis for our dividedness. Instead, our diversity should become a reason we cherish each other. The rainbow is beautiful because of the multiplicity of its colours.”

As far as creative ways for dealing with financial and social crisis go, Madonsela seems to be pushing the boundaries of how we can make a difference.

“We invite all South Africans to support this cause and for those of us who can walk, particularly women, to please come and join us. You will enjoy this,” the SU Prof added.

And you can indeed join Madonsela this weekend, by booking a place via Quicket. While the R600 per person per day seems steep, the fee not only includes padkos (including a yummy SA classic: roosterkoek), but also transport and a donation to the #Action4Inclusion fundraising campaign.

Hiking across vast landscapes may not be the most orthodox way to solve SA’s student debt crisis, but it’s definitely worth a try.

[source:news24]