Wednesday 26 April 2017
The Commission's decision reflected its recognition as to how much part of Island life the World Aid Walk has become since its inception in 1970 and the huge difference the funds raised by countless walkers since then has made to the lives of some of the poorest people in the world.
Deputy Yerby, the Commission's President said:
"The World Aid Walk is a highlight of Guernsey's charity calendar - an event many islanders enjoy participating in each year. One of the great things about the Walk is that it's entirely home grown - it was started over 40 years ago by islanders who wanted to raise awareness of the challenges faced by people living in poorer countries, and how we could take action to make a difference. It was a privilege for the Commission to be able to boost the impact of the World Aid Walk again this year. I hope that the incentive that every £1 a walker raises will be doubled by the Commission's matched funding, will encourage more walkers than ever to enrol and that their sponsors will be especially generous. The range of projects which benefited from the 2016 agreement closely reflects the Commission's ethos of making lasting change in poorer communities through health, education, sanitation and food security."
The 2016 World Aid Walk raised £22,000 and, on the basis of a matched funding agreement between the Commission and the World Aid Walk Committee, six charities received £3,500 each from the Walk, and a further £3,500 from the Commission. The charities supported by the walk are ActionAid, Christian Aid, the Eleanor Foundation, Oxfam, Save the Children Fund and the Tumaini Fund.
