Walkathon – Children walking for a Better World

This year, Olesya Zaglada joined other parents from the International School of Düsseldorf (ISD) to volunteer at the school’s annual Walkathon—a cherished tradition that brings the whole community together for a good cause.

During the event, students run laps and collect donations, either per lap or as a fixed amount. The funds raised go toward meaningful service projects supported by the school. Through this experience, children learn from a young age that their energy and enthusiasm can help make the world a better place—and that even small steps can lead to big change.

One of the school’s most deeply rooted commitments is its partnership with schools in Tanzania, a collaboration that has lasted for more than 25 years. Today, ISD works closely with Mandaka Day Secondary School in the Kilimanjaro region. Students from both schools meet regularly online to exchange stories and ideas, learning from one another about climate change, education, health, and the challenges and hopes that shape their lives. These conversations nurture understanding, empathy, and true global friendship.

Olesya Zaglada with her daughter Zoya walking at Walkathon

Thanks to the Walkathon, ISD has been able to help Mandaka in many practical ways—by drilling a well, building a water tower with storage tanks, starting an organic garden, and providing internet access. The school has also received nine gently used laptops and a photocopier, giving students and teachers new opportunities to learn and create.

Also other projects are supported by Walkathon, like

-funding projects in Latin America focused on education, shelter, and healthcare for kids (https://www.futuro-si.de/)

–  medical care to children from war-torn countries, like  Afghanistan, Gambia, and Iraq ( https://friedensdorf.de/).

– support people in Düsseldorf who are experiencing homelessness  (https://www.fiftyfifty-galerie.de/).

– the Franciscan Mission runs a kitchen supporting those in need of healthy food. They feed over 200 people a warm lunch every day (https://franciscanmissions.org/).

Each of these projects brings real, lasting improvements to the daily lives of people in a community far from ours. Yet they also remind us that compassion knows no distance, and that when children walk for others, they take steps toward a kinder, more connected world.