Sudanese friends complete 900-mile UK walk to raise funds for displaced children's school
The grueling 900-mile trek across the UK has finally come to an end for Giel Malual and John Kuei, two Sudanese friends who set out on a mission to raise money for a school at a refugee camp in Chad. What they encountered was nothing short of overwhelming kindness from the British public.
Malual described the experience as "overwhelming" when asked about their journey, highlighting the numerous gestures of warmth and support they received along the way. Despite braving some of the coldest weather of the year, the pair were met with open arms by people across the country who offered them hot meals, free rooms, and even donations to their cause.
The duo's decision to undertake this challenging walk was motivated by a desire to raise awareness about the struggles faced by Sudanese refugees. Malual himself arrived in the UK as an 16-year-old refugee from South Sudan. To put themselves in the shoes of those struggling to survive, he deliberately chose to complete the treacherous journey during the coldest weeks of the year.
Throughout their trek, they were supported by Asylum Speakers, an organization that amplifies refugee voices in the UK. Gulwali Passarlay, an Afghan refugee and public speaker who provided logistical support for the walk, pointed out that the UK's right-wing politicians often claim to represent the will of the people, but the reality on the ground is far from it.
"What we've seen has been very different," said Passarlay. "Compassion, kindness, and generosity have prevailed throughout their journey. They raised £90,000 in just a month, witnessing more of Britain than some of these politicians who claim to represent the people. They've met countless individuals and towns, demonstrating that there is so much goodness in this country."
The pair's fundraising efforts on GoFundMe have exceeded £100,000, with plans to build several schools for displaced children. Upon their return to London, they were greeted by a welcome party at King's Cross station, where they were congratulated on their remarkable achievement.
For Malual, the walk has taught him a valuable lesson about the true nature of British society. "When we were walking in the cold and on the road, finding people who didn't know us helping us out without judging us based on what we looked like – that's the true value of this society," he reflected.
As they reflect on their incredible journey, Malual and Kuei can take pride in knowing that their efforts have made a tangible difference to the lives of displaced children. Their story serves as a powerful testament to the kindness and generosity of the British public, who continue to inspire hope and compassion in those who need it most.
The grueling 900-mile trek across the UK has finally come to an end for Giel Malual and John Kuei, two Sudanese friends who set out on a mission to raise money for a school at a refugee camp in Chad. What they encountered was nothing short of overwhelming kindness from the British public.
Malual described the experience as "overwhelming" when asked about their journey, highlighting the numerous gestures of warmth and support they received along the way. Despite braving some of the coldest weather of the year, the pair were met with open arms by people across the country who offered them hot meals, free rooms, and even donations to their cause.
The duo's decision to undertake this challenging walk was motivated by a desire to raise awareness about the struggles faced by Sudanese refugees. Malual himself arrived in the UK as an 16-year-old refugee from South Sudan. To put themselves in the shoes of those struggling to survive, he deliberately chose to complete the treacherous journey during the coldest weeks of the year.
Throughout their trek, they were supported by Asylum Speakers, an organization that amplifies refugee voices in the UK. Gulwali Passarlay, an Afghan refugee and public speaker who provided logistical support for the walk, pointed out that the UK's right-wing politicians often claim to represent the will of the people, but the reality on the ground is far from it.
"What we've seen has been very different," said Passarlay. "Compassion, kindness, and generosity have prevailed throughout their journey. They raised £90,000 in just a month, witnessing more of Britain than some of these politicians who claim to represent the people. They've met countless individuals and towns, demonstrating that there is so much goodness in this country."
The pair's fundraising efforts on GoFundMe have exceeded £100,000, with plans to build several schools for displaced children. Upon their return to London, they were greeted by a welcome party at King's Cross station, where they were congratulated on their remarkable achievement.
For Malual, the walk has taught him a valuable lesson about the true nature of British society. "When we were walking in the cold and on the road, finding people who didn't know us helping us out without judging us based on what we looked like – that's the true value of this society," he reflected.
As they reflect on their incredible journey, Malual and Kuei can take pride in knowing that their efforts have made a tangible difference to the lives of displaced children. Their story serves as a powerful testament to the kindness and generosity of the British public, who continue to inspire hope and compassion in those who need it most.
You know what's so cool? This Sudanese duo just walked 900 miles across the UK to raise money for a school in Chad 
️! They met so much kindness from strangers along the way, like hot meals and free rooms 
. I think it's amazing that they're raising over £100k for displaced kids 
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. Like, it's clear that most Brits are super compassionate and kind 
. This walk just shows that there's so much goodness in this country 
.
It's always inspiring to hear their experiences 
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. I mean, £100k raised for a school? That's amazing, but have they thought about sustainability? Will the schools be managed by local communities or will it be just another Western aid project 
? And what about the logistics of getting supplies to those refugee camps? It's great that people are willing to donate, but we need to think about the long-term impact here 
. Plus, have they considered the potential for "aid fatigue"? I don't want to be a buzzkill, but it's always good to question the intentions and outcomes of these kinds of initiatives 
1 million+ people walked with Giel & John on their route 
- that's like filling Wembley Stadium! 
Meanwhile, UK's right-wing politicians only managed to raise £100k in 6 months for refugee causes 
. Malual and Kuei raised £100k+ in just ONE MONTH 
What does it say about British society when you see the difference between politicians' claims & reality? 
Did you know that £1 million could build a school for 10,000 children? 
. But what's even more inspiring is how they were met with open arms by the British public who showed them so much kindness and compassion 
! And it's not just about the money; they've also spread awareness about the struggles faced by Sudanese refugees and showed them that there's still so much goodness in this country 
.
. Can't wait to see what the future holds for these two amazing guys 
!
. But these guys are seriously dedicated to their cause. It's awesome that they got such an amazing response from the British public, though. I guess it just goes to show that there's still so much good in this country... most of the time, anyway 
. I'm glad they were able to raise so much money for those kids, it's really making a difference. Maybe we should all try to be a little more like them and lend a helping hand? 
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. I wish more people could take inspiration from these two guys and go out there and make a change in their own community 
. I mean, think about it - two guys from Sudan walk 900 miles, literally freezing their tails off, and what do they get? A bunch of random acts of kindness that'll be forgotten the moment they leave London 
. Don't get me wrong, £100k is a pretty nice chunk change, but let's not pretend like this is some altruistic exercise in kindness 
. Give me a break 
.
. This story reminds us that there's still so much goodness in the world, and we should be celebrating it more often 
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. I think this is such an awesome way to show that there's still kindness and goodness out there 
- just to raise money for a school that can make a difference in the lives of displaced kids. And let's be real, it's not just about the money they raised (£100k+ on GoFundMe), it's about showing the world what's really going on here. I mean, people saying one thing but doing another? It takes guts to show up and prove them wrong.
! They're so open and kind...I'm not saying everyone is, but these two guys definitely saw a lot of good. And you know what's even more impressive? The fact that they didn't let the cold weather or anything else stop them from spreading love and kindness wherever they went.
! 900 miles is crazy but so cool they did it for a good cause 
