In a remarkable display of resilience and determination, two Sudanese friends, Giel Malual and John Kuei, have successfully completed a 900-mile walk across the United Kingdom, raising nearly £90,000 to open new schools for displaced children in their home country.
The pair set out from Dungeness in Kent on 19 December, braving the harsh winter conditions to trek all the way up to John o’Groats in Scotland over the course of 33 days. Despite the physical and logistical challenges, they were overwhelmed by the warm welcome and generosity they received from the British public along the way.
“All the houses that we slept in, all the welcome that we were given, all the warmth and the support, the cheers and the encouragement that we have received, it has been overwhelming,” said Malual, who came to the UK as a 16-year-old refugee from South Sudan.
The duo, who were supported by the organisation Asylum Speaker, originally aimed to raise £35,000 to fund a single school in a Sudanese refugee camp in Chad. However, their inspiring journey and the outpouring of public support have enabled them to exceed their target, with plans now in place to establish several schools.
One of the most gruelling moments of the trek was crossing the border into Scotland, a 16-hour walk from Otterburn to Galashiels in temperatures as low as -5°C (23°F). Malual explained that the decision to undertake the challenge during the coldest weeks of the year was a deliberate one, to raise awareness and empathise with the daily struggles faced by Sudanese people.
“Deciding to do this in winter was to create awareness and also to put myself in the shoes of day-to-day Sudanese struggles in life, how hard it is for them to survive and walk hundreds of miles to find safety,” he said.
Gulwali Passarlay, an Afghan refugee and public speaker who provided logistical support for the walk, praised the pair’s achievements, stating that their journey has showcased the true compassion and generosity of the British public, in stark contrast to the rhetoric of “rightwing politicians” who claim to know the will of the people.
“In the last 900 miles, they’ve seen nothing but compassion, kindness and generosity. They raised £90,000. In just a month. They have seen more of Britain than some of these racist politicians who claim to represent the people,” Passarlay said.
After reaching their final destination at Duncan by Head lighthouse on Wednesday, Malual and Kuei returned to London, where they were met with a warm welcome at King’s Cross Station. Reflecting on their remarkable journey, Malual expressed the profound impact it had on his understanding of British society.
“When we were on that journey, walking in the cold and on the road, finding these people we didn’t know helping us out and supporting us, without judging us based on what we look like – that is the true value of this society,” he said.
