Australian to walk for dalit children

(October 06, 2011) An Australian missionary would walk more than 1,000 kilometres to gather funds to improve the lives of dalit children in India. Beverley Hughes is planning to walk from Sydney to Melbourne a distance of 1,173km in a total 43 days to raise awareness about the plight of dalit children in India. She will gather funds for their food and education during her mission. “I spent a few years living in India as a Christian missionary, and so have seen first-hand, the ravaging effects of poverty. I am motivated by seeing what can be done here in our own country and how our efforts have the potential to effect the lives of so many other people,” said Hughes. Hughes said she wants to be the voice of such children. “These Dalit kids will never have a chance to be in a position that we in Australia are today,” she said. Hughes said that 100 percent of the money raised will be donated to families of these children through a children’s outreach program run by Gospel for Asia. Hughes will be accompanied by Juni Howel and few other members of ‘Walk for the Kids’ project. “Everyone is welcome to join in the challenge. We assure you that your life will be changed forever once stepping out and doing something out-of-the-box and helping someone else on the other side of the world less fortunate than yourself,” she said.