Emily and Don Falk, a father/daughter duo from Rimbey biked to Canmore and back on Monday and Tuesday after having raised $4,700 for the Global Enrichment Foundations’ (GEF) recently opened Rajo Women’s Literacy School for Somali refugees in Nairobi, Kenya.
“A few years ago me and a friend were talking and we decided that we both liked biking so we gave it a try,” said Emily on how her annual fundraiser began.
“This is the third year that I’ve done it and the second time with my dad.”
Emily and Don underwent a training process of anywhere from 36-60km a night before their two-day trek.
Emily, founder of the GEF’s Red Deer chapter, became involved with the organization after hearing the Foundation’s founder, Amanda Lindhout, speak a few years ago on her kidnapping ordeal. Lindhout was working as a freelance journalist in Somalia when she was kidnapped and held hostage for 460 days.
Upon Lindhout’s return to Canada, she recognized a need for change in her captives’ country of Somalia and began the GEF in 2010.
“There’s a lot of support for what we are doing and we are really excited about it,” said Falk.
The Global Enrichment Foundation is now working on a She Will project that supports survivors of gender-based violence in internally displaced peoples (IDP) camps in Mogadishu – Somalia’s war-torn capital.
Through its Hoops for Hope program, GEF sponsors female sports teams to foster leadership, teamwork and communication.
The Foundation’s Convoy for Hope team has also distributed emergency food aid to more than 175,000 men, women and children in Central and Southern Somalia.
jswan@reddeerexpress.com