Why I'm Walking: Lisa Angwin, Lutheran teacher, SA

"This time last year I had the privilege and life-changing experience of walking alongside refugees

Lisa with Jamali from Djibouti, who inspired
her to take part in Walk My Way.

living in refugee camps in Djibouti. 

While walking alongside men, women and children and being welcomed into their homes, I was moved not only by their warm hearts and welcoming spirits, but by their daily determination to survive and not lose hope. 

Education was the focus of our visit and the emotion displayed, when they spoke of how important it was for them to see their children get an education, was inspiring.

As a Lutheran teacher here in Australia working with children on a daily basis, I see it as a privilege to be in a position to make a difference in many lives. My goal each day is to build compassion, understanding and love in the hearts of others so that as a nation we may one day be more welcoming to the strangers across the seas.

One little 6 year old boy in particular will be in my heart on July 4th.

His name is Jamali and he has a skin disorder that itches all day and all night. He has suffered from this since the age of one. 

It hurt his body so much to wear clothing and shoes that he couldn’t attend school, as he couldn’t attend if not clothed. 

And yet on the last day as we said our farewells, I will forever remember looking up to see him running towards me fully clothed and wearing shoes just so that he could come to the school hall for a hug and to say goodbye. 

These people welcomed me, changed my life and took hold of a special place in my heart - and that is why I am walking!"

- Lisa Angwin, Lutheran teacher, South Australia

Thank you for sharing, Lisa! If you'd like to sponsor Lisa for Walk My Way, simply click here. 

One Step

One step

Followed by another
And another and another
And...ad infinitum.
How many steps
Make up this journey?
Or is it a pilgrimage,
Discovery, hopeful walk
Into a new life?

One step
Is what it took
To leave a situation
Which is indescribable
But that one step
Removed me from
What I remember and regret
Until new life beckoned
In a strange place.

One step
Followed by another
Is what we'll walk today
Will we tire? Will we thirst?
Will one step more
Be one step too many
Or in all our steps
Will we rejoice and remember
Those seeking new life?

(c) Peter Bean, June 2017

Why I'm Walking: Sue Tuffin, Year 5 teacher, Victoria

"I have been quite overwhelmed by the support I've received for the Walk My Way endeavour.

I decided to do the walk in the last school holidays when I was writing and planning the Year 5&6 Christian Studies units for this term. We like to use the ALWS material for our CS lessons during the term that we have Vicki (Gollasch from ALWS) visit for Awareness Day.

This year we also held a Market Day where students set up stalls and sold goods or services to our school community as a fundraiser.

Everyone has been so generous and supportive.

It's funny that my original fundraising target was $260 and now donations have reached over $1700! 

That's over 65 refugee kids! A HUGE thank you to everyone who has sponsored me.

I've also planned a couple of little extra things for my walk.

Firstly, I'm going to carry 6 litres of water on my back as a way of understanding what many women and girls have to do on a daily basis as they are usually the ones who collect the water.

I have also recruited my daughter Samantha who is a young teacher at the Lutheran school in Mildura to participate and also a dear friend of ours from Adelaide. The walk will unite us for a day as we don't get to see each other very often and this will be a lovely, shared memory."

- Sue Tuffin, Year 5 teacher at Good Shepherd Lutheran Primary School, Victoria

Thank you, Sue! To sponsor Sue or another Walker, and help even MORE refugee kids go to school, click here. 

Why I'm Walking: Tony Ashdown, Development Manager, SA

South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute Development Manager Tony Ashdown shares why he's decided to walk 26km to help refugee children go to school...

"I am looking forward to Walk My Way for a variety of reasons.

Firstly, I love walking. It is exhilarating, although I cannot guarantee that feeling after 26 kilometres!

Secondly, I have full respect for the incredible tradition of the German women from Hahndorf walking with their produce and returning with two bricks each for the Church.

Thirdly, my wife Jenny and I are keen supporters of ALWS. The work being done is largely unheralded and such a valuable expression of the Kingdom of God.

I am delighted to be a participant in this walk and to add my support and involvement to this special walk."

Thanks, Tony! To support Tony, click here - or walk alongside Tony by registering now. Thank you!

Why I'm Walking: Chey Mattner, Head of ALWS

"Why have I decided to walk?

Chey Mattner, meeting in the mountains outside of Kathmandu

Because I’ve just spent today with some refugees in Djibouti who’ve lived in the same camp for 25 years. Some were born in the camp, and now have children of their own.

I have children of my own too. But I have choices. They have choices. These refugees do not.

They are instead at the mercy of another country, and there’s no sign of them leaving.

The least I can do is put on a pair of sneakers, and show them that they are not forgotten.

We must bring this issue to the attention of others, and Walk My Way is a great way of doing this.  

Walk with me too. Walk with THEM!"

To join Chey, head to the Walk My Way website to register. Or donate here - thank you!

Sewing Hope: Fatima's Story

Fatima at the Lutheran Community Sewing Group
in Albert Park (SA), sewing one of the head-scarves
given to all Walk My Way Walkers.

“We had to leave Iraq because it was very dangerous in our area. There are very big problems, bombs, killing. We escaped to Jordan first, and came to Australia in 2003.

I was a nurse. I worked in Jordan for 2 years with a surgeon in hospital. But not here. I can’t. I don’t know English words in nursing.

I miss Iraq too much… (cries) … All my family is there.  I miss my family, and my neighbours. Every time they are together I am missing. They miss me too much. In Iraq I know everyone. We share cooking and talk.

Here I know no one.  I was very sad and crying when I first came here. Angry.

I have been coming to sewing group for 6 years.  When I first come, I know I was not good at English. Anytime someone would talk to me, or teach me, I just say ‘thank you, thank you’. But I was not sure what they were saying.

A lady taught me sewing, but I learn so much more than sewing. When I come here, it makes me more good than before … (cries) ... Now I know everything and I teach.

This group very important to me. These people are my neighbours. I know them now … too much I know them … (laughs) … Now I’m happy to stay. It is good.”

You're needed to help other new neighbours like Fatima. You can register to Walk, volunteer, pray, or donate now. Thank you!

From little things, HUGE things grow!

Vicki Gollash, ALWS Community Education rep for Victoria, NSW and Tasmania, shares the story of a small but MIGHTY group of kids and teachers in rural Victoria.    Students from St Peter’s Lutheran School in Dimboola saved their devotion offerings for 2 years to help an amazing 50 refugee kids go to school! A couple of weeks ago, I visited St Peter's Lutheran School in Dimboola. With just 27 kids in total, I think it may be the smallest Lutheran School in Australia! I spoke to 11 Grade P-2 students and then 16 Grade 3-6 students. They were lovely kids and really keen to learn. After lunch, they half-filled buckets of water and walked 1 km around the block. It’s a simple exercise to experience what life is like for other children their age. This is all part of a very normal school visit.   The surprising part happened at the end of the day… ...when they presented me with a cheque for $1300! The students and the whole school community were so excited because this means they can help 50 refugee kids go to school! What an incredible effort - thank you, St Peter's Lutheran School! And what a wonderful reminder to us all that from little things - like a $1 coin in the devotion collection jar - AMAZING things can grow! If you'd also like to help refugee kids go to school, sign up for Walk My Way or simply Donate Now. Thank you!

Meet Indi: Minecraft enthusiast and Champion for Refugees!

Inspired by a visit from the ALWS Community Education team to her school, Queensland student Indi decided she needed to do something to help refugees. 

'I love the work they [ALWS] do' says Indi. 'They help refugees and people in developing countries, in all sorts of ways. I am hoping to raise $100 by not using my devices (ipad/iPhone, except for essential school work) from Sunday 21st May through to Saturday 28th May'.

See Indi's passion in her short video below!

Or watch it here on YouTube. 

I'm sure you'll agree Indi seems like a pretty amazing girl. 

What's even more amazing is that she's already smashed her $100 target and has increased it to $500 - which would help an incredible 19 refugee children!

In her quest to help others, Indi knows she hasn't taken on an easy challenge in giving up her devices. 'This means no Minecraft and no YouTube' she says. 'It will be very hard for me'.

Mum Bek is so proud of her daughter:

'This afternoon she was watching an SBS documentary she found that I had taped called Go Back To Where You Came From. She was calling out to the TV in support of refugees. I love her heart!'

You can sponsor Indi on her fundraising page here, or simply leave her a comment to encourage her. Go Indi!

Why We're Walking: Kirra and Julie, ALWS

Mums Kirra and Julie have test-walked the 26 kilometre 

Walk My Way track, following the path of Lutheran 

pioneer women. They urge other mums to join them 

in stepping out to bring love to life for refugees. 

Photo: LWF / C.Kastner

“When you give birth, you think life will all go very smoothly, and you long for your child to be like everybody else.

“But sometimes that doesn’t happen.

“Asher is 10 now, and his name means ‘happy and blessed’. He lives with autism.

“I can’t change that. All I can do is equip Asher with the skills to cope in a world that is not always very welcoming to people like him. I can’t control how people respond to him. I can’t force them to be open and kind, but I can equip Asher to survive.”

Kirra Lewis, a ‘product’ of Lutheran congregations in the east of Melbourne, is coordinating a new event, Walk My Way, for ALWS. This 26 kilometre walk follows the footsteps of Lutheran pioneer women in the 1840s as they carried produce from Hahndorf to Adelaide – and returned with hard-to-get goods, including two bricks each to build a new church.

Walk My Way aims to raise money to help refugee children in Africa go to school, and walk in solidarity with those who have lost everything as refugees. Kirra says,

“I guess that’s why I’m part of Walk My Way.

“All of us who are mums long for our children to be whole and happy, and contributing members of society. When that’s challenged, there’s something in your mother heart that means you’d walk over hot coals to change things.

“In the developing world, that mother heart doesn’t change.

“You still want to do everything you can to help your child to survive. That’s why we at ALWS see refugee mothers walking vast distances, through great danger, to carry their children to safety.

“So for me to walk 26 kilometres in Walk My Way is a small thing – but I’m doing it for mothers for whom walking means everything.”

Working – and walking – alongside Kirra is Julie Krause, ALWS Community Action Officer for SA/ NT /WA. Julie has her own mother heart story for doing Walk My Way.

“I came from a large family, and always dreamed of having four or more children. But I had a lot of trouble falling pregnant, and remember looking at other women who were pregnant, and feeling a deep heartache.

“It seemed so easy for them, but so hard for me. I knew God could answer my prayers, but I struggled to understand why he didn’t.

“Finally, after 7 years, I was blessed with Josiah.  People say it’s easy to become pregnant again after the first, but not for me. We embarked on the overseas adoption journey, but the little girl we were matched with, died four days before we were due to collect her. The next child we were given was kidnapped as part of a political process against adoption.

“When you so long to be a mother again, that pain is almost unbearable.

“Yet, God answered my prayer when Tesema and Abebaw from Ethiopia became my two new sons. God answered my dream – just not the way I expected.

“I know what a gift children are, and how precious it is to be a mum. That’s why when I Walk My Way, I will be walking for mums in Africa whose children are threatened by  famine and conflict.” 

Walk My Way happens on Tuesday 4 July, but you can do it when and where it suits you best. If you can’t walk, you can volunteer, pray or sponsor a Walker. Simply go to walkmyway.org.au or call 1300 763 407

A school built in 5 months

From this...

...to this - in 5 months!

On 16 April 2017, the community at Ali Addeh Refugee camp in Djibouti celebrated a new school built in partnership between ALWS, LWF and the European Commission. With 10 classrooms and 11 latrines, hundreds of refugee children can now go to school in proper conditions.

The Chair of the School Management Community called the school 'a great treasure'. The Chairlady called it 'a dream come true'. The whole refugee community expressed their gratitude to the ALWS family … so we pass that on to you. 

These are the 'dreams' you make a reality through Walk My Way and ALWS.

Thank you! 

Find out more about Walk My Way here. 

Away and In Danger: Carol of the Refugee Children

These moving words to the tune of 'Away in a Manger' were written by Shirley Murray from New Zealand. Our prayer is they encourage all of us to keep reaching out in love for justice for refugees. 

Away and in danger,

Rose crossed the border from South Sudan to safety
with her four children, carrying all their worldly possessions.

no hope of a bed,
the refugee children,
no tears left to shed               
look up at the night sky
for someone to know
that refugee children
have no place to go.      

The babies are crying,
their hunger awakes,
the boat is too loaded,
it shudders and breaks;
humanity's wreckage
is thrown out to die,
the refugee children
will never know why.

Come close, little children,
we hold out our hand
in rescue and welcome
to shores of our land -
in *aroha, touching
        your fear and your pain,
with dreams for your future          
when peace comes again.

*Maori for 'warm embracing love'
alternative line "in touching, in healing'

Shirley Erena Murray 
Words © 2016 Hope Publishing Company

Thanks for allowing us to share your powerful words, Shirley. 

To 'hold out your hand' and welcome refugee children, register now for Walk My Way, or sponsor a Walker. Your prayers are also needed. Thank you!

Why I'm Walking: Gaynor Gower, LLL officer, SA

The Lutheran Laypeople's League (LLL) serves so many with their generous gifts to help people in need through different arms of the church, including ALWS. 

Their staff are pretty awesome too! LLL staff member Gaynor Gower shares why she's walking 26km in July...

Gaynor and husband Michael, who's thinking
of joining Team LLL on the Walk!

I have been a long time supporter of ALWS and feel very strongly about the work they do.

Having worked with Jen Pfitzner while she was based in Adelaide at the LLL office has also reinforced the fantastic work ALWS does.

When I heard LLL were one of the sponsors for Walk My Way and found out more about the walk, I felt this was something I could do and in fact, felt quite compelled to do.

Both myself and my fellow LLL staff member Andrea were very keen to register for the walk and will be proud to represent the LLL.

I am hoping that by participating in Walk My Way, I can raise more awareness for all the good works that ALWS do.

Thank you, Gaynor, Andrea and the LLL for your wonderfully generous support!

To sponsor Team LLL through Walk My Way, click here. To join them on the Trail in July, register now!

Or to learn more about the generous work of the LLL, click here!

'The wind can blow this school away': Alsaid's Story

Alsaid is 12 years old and fled to Dadaab Refugee Camp in Kenya to escape the war in Somalia. Even at such a young age, he knows education is vital for him and the other children at the Camp. Here, Alsaid thanks you, and asks you not to forget them.

“I was in Level 7 at school when we left Somalia. There was war going on, and there were bandits. When they see you, they shoot you. I see one person who has died already.

There were two rebel groups fighting for control of our area. We had to run away from these clashes.

There were burials daily, so many died. I was very scared I would be killed. 

This is why we run away. We boarded a vehicle from Somalia in January 2011. It took two days to reach the border. On the way we were intercepted by bandits. They took all our clothes, and by the time we arrived here we were half naked.

We arrived at Dagahaley camp (part of Dadaab Refugee Camp) where we were registered as new arrivals. As the area was filled up, we had to live on the outskirts. We had to live in the local shelter made from shrubs.

We came here with nothing. We received help from our relatives who were already here, and we received food distribution. We also received sleeping mats, utensils, blankets, and a tent at Kambios (another part of Dadaab).

My parents can just stay in the camp. There is no work for them to do, and this makes them sad.

LWF (ALWS partners Lutheran World Federation) is the one who give us the education. They built up the school for us. 

I give my thanks to the people in Australia. I am grateful.

Please continue your help as the school is not yet completed. We have no permanent classroom. Without this, the wind can come and blow this school away.

We do not even have a school bell, so the children don’t know when to come. We need a stamp to put the school name on the textbooks. We get homework, but we do not have enough books. At home we also do not have light so we cannot study at night.

I would like to be a teacher. I will teach the younger children, and be a teacher here at this camp. I will make sure parents bring the children to school, because if the children do not have education they can only be labourers.

Education is the best thing to make life better in the camp.”

To help children like Alsaid, register for Walk My Way now. Can't walk? Sponsor a Walker, donate, volunteer, pray. Thank you!

Why I'm Walking: Robin Mann, Songwriter, SA

Many of us know of Robin Mann as a prolific songwriter and skilled guitarist, whose music has added so much to our worship. Yet perhaps you didn't know he also suffers from a debilitating disease. Robin explains why taking up the challenge to walk 26kms won't be a 'walk in the park' for him...

"Dorothy & I have been long-time supporters of Australian Lutheran World Service. 

A cursory look at many of the songs I’ve written or ones that are in the All Together books would indicate that serving others is fundamental to my understanding of the Christian faith.

When I heard of the walk, and raising money for education resources in Kenya, Sudan & Djibouti, I immediately thought ‘I’d like to do this’. Dorothy’s a teacher & we know how important education is. We rich Australians can easily take for granted the resources we have & others struggle to get.

Everything we got … teach us to care for it, teach us to share

There’s also a personal challenge for me.

In 2006 I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. 

Unlike most well-known MS sufferers, I have a very slow version of this chronic disease. Nevertheless, movement & vision are affected so a long walk poses a serious challenge. On the other hand, I may be able to garner more sponsorship from people who want to share this challenge with me & support ALWS.

So, adapting Aub Podlich’s words ‘May the feet of God walk with me’."

To join Robin, Dorothy, and others who want to change the world one step at a time, go to walkmyway.org.au and register now. If you can't walk, why not sponsor a walker like Robin. Thank you!

For me, the future is dark: Concepta's Story

In Australia, we walk by choice. For many people in developing countries, walking is a means of survival. Concepta from South Sudan is now headmistress of a pre-school at Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. 

Here, she shares her story...

I ran away because of the war.

When the rebels came, there was severe fighting. I saw many heavy guns being shot. The battle happened at night-time but the bullets made it like day.

As we were running away I saw some people who were unlucky and were shot.

All my feelings were hurting as we ran. We had to jump over dead bodies. I had a child on my back, another in my hand, and I was pregnant. You don’t know if you will survive or not.

We were all captured and taken to the rebel camp. This was in 1989 and we were kept with them until 1993. We had nothing. Our clothes were gone, everything was gone, and we must live just like that.

I have not seen my husband since that night of the attack. I do not know what has happened to him.

My children cried out for their father. It disturbed me so much to hear them. But I know he is not coming.

You know what they did to my two young daughters. They were taken away by force to be ‘wives’ to the commanders. Until now I have never yet seen them.

Sometimes I feel like crying, but people say to me ‘Do not cry’, and you have to learn to live like that.

For me, the future is dark. There is nothing I am hoping for, even if I go back to South Sudan now. There is nothing that makes me happy. I am not happy at all. My two girls are not there. My husband is not there. My two boys are just here in the house, they have nothing. What can make me happy?

When I think about these things, I cry, but there is nothing I can do. Being only one woman what can I do? That is why I say there is no hope…

I escaped from the rebels when they came through the bush near to Lokichoggio. I became sick and so were my children. I was saying to them that I am going to get help for my children. I told them the children had no father, they had no one else but me.

The rebels did not want to release me because they had opened a school and needed me for teaching. They followed me, but I told them I am not coming back. Three times they came for me, but I told them I am not going.

The UN brought me to the camp at Kakuma. I have been Head Mistress at this school since 1996. It was me who opened it. In the beginning it was very hard because we have so many nationalities and communication is difficult.

Since the beginning of this pre-school, the people of Australia have been supporting us, and we are very much appreciating it. Without them we thought the pre-school would close down.

Tell them we are still working hard, and we welcome them helping us very much. They are the top people in the world who are assisting us. We are really thankful.

To support pre-schools like the one opened by Concepta, register now for Walk My Way. If you can't walk, consider sponsoring a walker. Thank you!

Why I'm Walking: Andrew Weiss, Teacher, SA

Andrew chats with a student at Hol Hol refugee camp in Djibouti.
By choosing to Walk or sponsoring a Walker,
you'll help provide much needed schools like these.

Andrew Weiss is a teacher at Cornerstone College in Mount Barker, SA. 

He's registered for Walk My Way - and has already got his walking shoes! We asked him why he decided to step out to help others...

"Last year I was lucky enough, through a trip organised by ALWS, to be able to visit and spend time in the refugee camps located in Djibouti.

"The shoes pictured are the ones that I used to walk through these refugee camps as I learnt what life is like in a refugee camp, why people become refugees and also had the opportunity to work with the refugee camp teachers and teach refugee children. 

To Djibouti and now to Hahndorf!

"One thing that struck me is the importance that is placed on refugee children being able to receive an education. Education gives these refugee children hope for the future. 

"That is why these same shoes and I are going to participate in Walk My Way, walking the 26kms from Hahndorf to Adelaide. By being a part of Walk My Way it gives me the chance to be an advocate for refugees around the world as well as raise awareness and money to enable children in refugee camps to receive an education."

Thanks for sharing, Andrew.

If you'd like to help provide Teachers + Textbooks + Tables for pre-school refugee kids, head to the Walk my Way website to find out more and register now!

Walking to Safety: Akech's Story

6 year old Akech is from South Sudan. Jonathan Krause from ALWS met her at the Reception Centre in Kakuma Refugee Camp. She was carrying her baby brother Lang, who was wearing just one shoe of a size suitable for a 10 year old. 

“I came here with my mother and my uncle. My father was killed in the violence. My mother was beaten.

I am always thinking about my father who was killed.

We ran away to Kenya. We come for safety, and also for food. I came from Sudan by foot. We were two days on foot. We were very tired. I was frightened. Then the UN pick us up.

I felt good when we get here. We get beans and maize here.

I am in Class One at school. My favourite subject is writing. I like collecting water, and I like playing. I want to be a teacher.

I do not want to go home because there is still a lot of fighting.”

When you choose to take the first step in helping others through Walk My Way, you're helping children like Akech. With very little else at the Refugee Camp, school offers a chance to learn and grow, but also to belong and be cared for. 

To register for the Walk, to find out how to run your own, or to sponsor a Walker, click here

Stayed tuned...

...for the first update coming soon!