Architect Treks 3000kms For Education

Architect Treks 3000kms For Education

Kiwi architect Rebecca Cox is giving up her day job to trek the full length of New Zealand via the Te Araroa Trail, aiming to raise $60,000 to build a school in rural Vanuatu as part of Oxfam New Zealand’s Rural Training Centre Project.

Starting on Sunday 26th October, Rebecca will start her trek on the Cape Reinga Coastal Walkway. She expects to complete her 3000 kilometre journey in Bluff in April 2015. Kiwis can pledge their support for Rebecca’s Trek at http://www.oxfam.org.nz/fundraise/trekking-today-training-tomorrow

Lucy Oakshott from Oxfam New Zealand says the charity is thrilled to have Rebecca’s support and is humbled by her dedication to help lift peoples’ lives for good. With at least 4000 students, some as young as 10 years old pushed out of formal education each year in Vanuatu there is a real need for more rural training centres. More than 500 young people each year are already continuing their education through a rural training centre, creating long-term benefits for the whole community.

A long-term supporter of Oxfam Rebecca completed the Oxfam Trailwalker event in 2011 raising $2,500. The Rural Training project has inspired her to once again get walking for Oxfam.

“The centres are long-term investments in the community, as an architect I’m interested in creating buildings that add value and are sustainable so this project is something I am passionate about. The centres provide not only education for young people but also act as a safe haven for local people to shelter during a cyclone as they are often the only cyclone-proof building in the village,” says Rebecca.

During her journey Rebecca will be joined by family members and friends. She’s keen to hear from other keen walkers who may like to join her for part of the journey. She’ll carry a satellite tracker with her on the trek and her progress will be able to be seen online http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0Y2qGRDfvunV5bHLrXpSq2XXoPJcqt46X

Rebecca’s trek has already attracted support from: Belgium Beer Café, Icebreaker, Laminex Group, Macpac and Swan Railley Architects.

ENDS

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