Hundreds of Australians are joining Newcastle man Mike Collins in walking for Cambodia.
The 2022 Walk to Cambodia unites hundreds of people in a virtual walk - so while they cannot actually walk to Cambodia, the collective of committed Australians are walking 50 million steps throughout April in an attempt to raise $40,000.
The charity event is run by Human and Hope, an organisation set up by University of Newcastle graduate Sally Hetherington.
The virtual walk raises money for a community centre in Cambodia that provides education and training programs to rural Cambodian communities as a way to break intergenerational poverty.
"Money raised from the event will make a real-world impact funding literacy classes, a preschool, library, scholarships, sewing and farming training," said Ms Hetherington.
"The programs we fund transform the lives of some of the poorest and most socially disadvantaged children in rural Cambodia.
"English skills are essential for gaining a well-paid job in the tourism sector, which provides most of the employment opportunities for locals, with millions of tourists visiting Siem Reap each year.
"Without knowledge of English, children are likely to follow in the footsteps of their parents who struggle to survive day-to-day."
Mr Collins from Broadmeadow is encouraging Novocastrians to get involved or donate to the cause in the next two weeks.
"Cambodia is one of the poorest nations," he said.
"There is intergenerational poverty that is really striking those communities and disproportionately impacting women and children.
"It is really difficult for them to break outside of that cycle of poverty once they are in it.
"Walking and fundraising is a positive show of support for some of our most disadvantaged northern neighbours and a great way to get rid of the pandemic pounds."
Ms Hetherington was inspired to start the charity after she graduated from the University of Newcastle and booked a one-way ticket to Cambodia, with the goal of helping people living in poverty.
She soon discovered short-term foreign volunteers from high income countries like Australia were causing more harm than good.
"She started a wider program to educate Australians on the consequences of fallen tourism as well as supporting the Cambodian community to help themselves," said Mr Collins.
Instead of these trips, the walk was started to support an approach to national development based on sustainability, rather than going over and leaving communities worse off than they were found.
Over 200 people are involved in this years event, despite the wild weather experienced throughout NSW this month.
"I have been trying to get out everyday to get the steps up and contribute to the 50 million," said Mr Collins.
"No matter the weather. If it means we have to be out in the rain, then we will be out in the rain."
His five-year-old son sometimes joins him on his daily walk, reminding Mr Collins why children throughout the world deserve his help.
He is the second highest fundraiser out of all participants and has almost raised $1000, with two more weeks to go.
