Founded by Zach Faizal, Runkwa is an initiative aimed at empowering children from adversity-stricken places to prosper and work towards a better life through running. The programme seeks to help these children by collecting shoes from different sporting events and encouraging donations from sponsors.
Derived from the Swahili word ‘Kwa’, meaning ‘For’, the name means ‘Run For’. Everybody runs for a reason, while many run for the sake of fitness, Runkwa focuses on the increasing number of children in places such as Kenya who run to escape poverty. The region is home to some of the world’s most talented runners, including that of the Kalenjin tribe. Despite being a community of 5 million people, the tribe saw 32 runners run a marathon under 2 hours 10 minutes in October 2011, something only 11 Americans had ever achieved up until that point.
Born from his passion for running, Zach Faizal harnesses the transformative nature of running through the organisation, showcasing how the sport teaches us to embrace the worst moments in life and turn them into something positive. Runkwa not only instills hope in young lives, but also provides children with the right support to overcome their circumstances and achieve their dreams.
