Earlier this summer in June, the whole of the Banya team slipped on their trainers to #Walk4Difference and support a charity which helps children at home and abroad,.
The Vana Trust charity helps children, young adults and those with special needs find their feet in the world, funding a therapeutic farm in Oxford and sponsoring children’s education in Zimbabwe.
Since it was set up in 2003, Farm Vana has helped hundreds of people find confidence and overcome many challenges including torture and abuse. The farm programme includes caring for animals, growing veg, learning to cook and taking part in country fairs and food markets.
There have been many amazing success stories, with regular visitors to the farm growing in confidence and going on to find regular employment in garden centres or National Trust properties. Something that would have seemed impossible to them before visiting the farm.
In Zimbabwe, the Vana Trust has helped thousands of children aged 0-18 gain the right to an education. It funds school fees and books and, in some cases sponsors higher education. Many of the children sponsored by the Trust are now enjoying successful careers in industries such as banking and accountancy.
As with all corners of life, the Coronavirus is having an impact on both projects, particularly in Zimbabwe where it is facing the worst hunger crisis in a decade. Before COVID-19 hit, the country was already facing a climate disaster and economic meltdown, with normal rainfall recorded in just one of the last five growing seasons. Half of the country’s population, 7.7 million people are now food insecure and help is needed fast.
The Vana Trust organised #Walk4Difference in June to raise vital funds for both projects.
This is the fourth year the Trust has organised a fundraising walk. The first took place in 2017 when Vana Trust’s Founder, Nyasha Gwatidzo set herself the challenge of walking the length of the Thames following an illness. Nyasha said, “I’d been really poorly and was feeling very down. A friend said to me, ‘tell yourself you’re better and wish it away’. I knew there was evidence that setting yourself a challenge can make you feel better, so I decided to walk the length of the Thames, 183 miles, alone, over 14 days. I chose to walk alone as I hate my own company, coming from a family of seven children being on my own is a phobia.”
“I started out on my own, but as friends and supporters of the charity heard what I was doing they decided to join me on various stretches of the walk. By the time I got to Greenwich there were about 20 people with me.”
“With the support of sponsors, I raised over £10,000 and mentally felt so much stronger by the end of it. This year I was due to walk the second half of the Pieterpad Trail in Holland, but COVID-19 shelved my plans so came up with a different idea to raise funds this year.
Banya asked people to show those most in need, that they will never walk alone, by creating their own walk. Walkers were encouraged to set their own personal challenge in terms of distance each day, they just had to walk for 14 consecutive days from Friday 12th to Thursday 25th June. Participants were encouraged to raise a minimum of £100 for the Vana Trust and Banya was looking to recruit 500 walkers to raise a total of £50,000.
Nyasha added, “#Walk4Difference is life changing, just £1 feeds a family in Zimbabwe for a day. The fundraising also helps create new kitchen and outdoor facilities for those receiving therapy at our UK farm.”
