More Than a Walk – Why Walk My Way Matters

When our ALWS Ambassadors first began teaching us about Nepal, it felt a long way away.

Our students learnt about the mountains, the villages, the schools and the daily challenges faced by families living in poverty. They heard stories, asked questions and began to understand that not every child experiences life the same way they do.

Then tragedy struck Nepal, suddenly, what had been an important learning experience became something far more personal. The people we had been talking about in classrooms were no longer simply part of a lesson. They were real people facing real hardship. For our students, the question quickly shifted from “What is happening in Nepal?” to “What can we do to help?”

The answer was Walk My Way, and what followed was remarkable for our community.

Our little school of 90 students, supported by an incredible community, raised over $6,000. To be honest, that figure still amazes me. For a small regional school, it is a significant amount of money and a testament to the generosity of so many people.

But the greatest impact wasn’t measured in dollars, it was measured in what happened to our students.

There is often concern that young people today can become disconnected from the struggles of others. Not because they lack compassion, but because modern life can make it difficult to see beyond our own experience. Many children have never encountered the challenges of finding clean water, recovering from disaster, or living without the opportunities we often take for granted.

Walk My Way helped bridge that gap, instead of simply reading about hardship, students responded to it. Instead of learning about compassion as a concept, they practised it and instead of discussing service, they lived it.

As I watched students encourage one another up the track at Bushland Park, collect sponsorships, talk about Nepal and proudly explain why they were participating, I was reminded that children often rise to the expectations we place before them.

Give young people something meaningful to care about and they will surprise you.

What struck me most was how quickly our students realised that they were not powerless. In a world where problems can seem overwhelming, they discovered that even a child can make a genuine difference. They learnt that small actions matter and that collective effort creates real change.

They also learnt the power of community – this was never just a school event – our church community, families, sister college Cornerstone College came alongside us (thank you all of you!). What started as a fundraiser became something much bigger, a community united around a shared purpose and in many ways, that may be the most important lesson of all.

Schools spend considerable time teaching values such as empathy, gratitude, resilience and service.Those lessons matter, but some things cannot be fully understood from a worksheet, a video or even a classroom discussion – sometimes young people need the chance to put those values into action.

That is what Walk My Way provides, it transforms compassion from an idea into an experience.

As a Lutheran school, this resonates deeply with our heritage. Lutherans have a long history of seeing faith expressed through service. Our forebears built schools, cared for communities, supported those in need and understood that loving our neighbour requires action as well as words, Walk My Way continues that tradition.

It teaches students that faith is not simply about what we believe, but how we respond when others are hurting and perhaps that is why I would encourage every school to consider becoming involved.

Yes, the funds raised make a real difference and yes, students learn about global issues and develop a broader perspective.

But more than anything, events like this help form young people of character. Young people who understand that the world is bigger than themselves and that they can contribute. 

Young people who recognise both the responsibility and the privilege of helping others.

In a time when many are searching for ways to build empathy, resilience and perspective in children, Walk My Way offers something wonderfully simple.

It doesn’t just teach these values – it lets students walk them.