Ejja Imxi Miegħi: Step Into The Shoes Of People In Africa Who Walk Hours For Water
Walking for leisure can be enjoyable and beneficial, but imagine having to walk kilometres, rain or shine, just to access drinkable water.
A new initiative looks to raise awareness and funds for people in certain African countries, who must walk long distances every day to access portable water.
Missio Malta is holding the first edition of Ejja Imxi Miegħi to highlight the immense distances people in developing countries walk daily to obtain potable water.
“People in countries such as Ghana, Somalia and Zimbabwe walk kilometres on end, to get drinking water on a daily basis. Often sources of potable water are situated very far away from their villages, making access to clean water an immense ordeal,” Robert Farrugia, Head of Communications and Fund Raising at Missio Malta explained.
“Through this event called Ejja Imxi Miegħi, we are inviting members of the public to join us on our stand at Triton Square in Valletta, to challenge themselves and walk a mile in the shoes of thousands of people in developing countries who go through immense hardship to obtain drinking water every day.”
Set to run between the 19th and 25th July at Pjazza Tritoni in Valletta, Missio Malta will use virtual reality technology and treadmills, to help participants experience an illusion of walking long distances in Africa.
“In our everyday lives, we walk considerable distances as part of our routines, be it for leisure, or to keep fit. Most of us are not strangers to walking, yet for us, it means something completely different,” Farrugia added.
“Through Ejja Imxi Miegħi, we want to shed light on people’s difficulties in developing countries. With VR technology and treadmills, participants will be able to walk in the dusty roads of Africa, ‘together with the locals’, and share their experience.”
Missio Malta has already helped thousands of people in Africa address this issue, helping them build wells that supply them with fresh water.
Ejja Imxi Miegħi shall coincide with the Malta International Food Festival which is taking place on the same days in the same location.
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