I would like to introduce the World Partnership Walk and a colleague of mine called Megan Hamlet. The World Partnership Walk, run by Aga Khan Foundation Canada, is Canada’s largest annual event dedicated to increasing awareness and raising funds to fight global poverty. It’s also one of the charitable organisations that AbeBooks.com supports. Megan is a 30-year-old customer support representative at AbeBooks, who is preparing for the trip of a life-time.

Now in its 25th year, the Walk is organized by volunteers in nine cities across the country and attracts tens of thousands of Canadians united in a common effort to bring hope and renewal to some of the poorest communities in the world. Last year nearly 40,000 participants came together across Canada to raise $5.5 million in support of international development. All funds go directly to international development programs. Not a cent is spent on administration.

Megan will make a 15,000-kilometre journey from Victoria, BC, to east Africa in July to learn how the Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) is tackling global poverty. She will witness development programs in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda on the week-long trip that will deepen her understanding of how Canadian resources help African communities transform their lives and livelihoods.

On her return, Megan will use her knowledge to raise awareness about the Aga Khan Foundation Canada (a registered charity) and encourage participation in the World Partnership Walk. Megan is funding the trip herself through a variety of initiatives. Everyone at AbeBooks is also helping her raise money. There will also be an AbeBooks team in Victoria’s part of the World Partnership Walk on May 31 – it’ll be the third time we will have participated.

AbeBooks is hosting a lunchtime awareness-building event to promote the World Partnership Walk amongst Victoria’s business community at 12 noon on 16 April at its HQ in Victoria. We’re expecting a good turn-out.

Megan will also be blogging at Reading Copy about her preparations for the trip and her experiences in Africa.