The 6K Walk for Literacy will take place at OLHMS at 9 a.m. on October 5.
Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123 is set to host a “6K Walk for Literacy” at Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School on October 5, 2024, at 9 a.m. The event is in partnership with the Tinogona Foundation to raise funds to build a library in Zimbabwe.
This fundraising event is open to all staff, students, families, and community members. The District is currently accepting registration forms and donations.
The Tinogona Foundation, also known as Tererai Trent International, was founded by Dr. Tererai Trent in 2011, shortly after receiving the gift of $1.5 million from Oprah Winfrey along with the title of her “all-time favorite guest.” TTI Foundation works to provide universal access to quality education in rural communities, and an education system that does not rely solely on external funding. “Tinogona” translates to “it is achievable” in English.
This summer, OLHMS Media Specialist Heather McCarthy spent two weeks in Zimbabwe with Dr. Trent and spent an extensive amount of time at Musukwi Primary School, one of the 12 schools Dr. Trent adopted in her home village. McCarthy was impressed with Dr. Trent’s sustainability, as she starts with boreholes for clean water and sets up each school with a garden, so students have access to fresh water and a meal each day.
“When I spoke to the head teacher about what his ultimate dream was for his students he said, ‘My dream is to one day have a library for my students,’” McCarthy said. “I think the universe aligned in all the right ways to have this librarian meet that head teacher and formulate a plan for getting Musukwi Primary School a library!”
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She was inspired to bring the Walk for Literacy to OLHMS and set a fundraising goal of $25,000, the total cost for a full library to be built in Musukwi. This project includes a double-block structure, shelving, desks, office space, and books.
Cash, checks made out to “Tinogona Foundation”, and online credit card donations are all accepted. To donate online, click here. All money is due by Friday, September 27 to guarantee a T-shirt. Donations will be taken through race day.
If you have any questions about the event or know a business that may be interested in making a matching donation, please contact Heather McCarthy at hmccarthy@d123.org, or (708) 499-6400 ext. 7930.