Wrapping Up Gibson’s 2024 Impact Challenge

Posted date:

01.10.24

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On September 16th, the Gibson’s team embarked on a two-week mission: the Gibson’s Impact Challenge. Our goal was to raise funds and cover 6,813 km to build a ChallengeAid School of Hope in the Kawangware slum, located in Nairobi, Kenya. Not only did we meet our targets, but we also surpassed them well before the end of the challenge, thanks to the overwhelming support from our clients, colleagues, and friends.

Surpassing goals

The results of the Impact Challenge exceeded our expectations. As a team, we collectively covered an astounding 10,589 km, well beyond our original goal of 6,813 km. To put that into perspective, this distance is equivalent to travelling from London to Cape Town, a journey that spans about a quarter of the Earth’s equator. We also raised a remarkable £19,370, nearly doubling our original fundraising target.

Our efforts amounted to more than 251 marathons across 1,058 individual activities, with an average of almost 10 km per activity.

Activities around the globe

The activities we participated in were as diverse as our global team. Highlights included:

Golf days in Houston
Lunchtime cycle in Richmond Park, London
Pedibus and Padel matches in London
Football games and evening walks in Mumbai
Quad cycles in Singapore
Padel and evening runs in Dubai

To cap off the challenge in London, we hosted a maritime-themed 5 km walk, attended by our local team, clients, the Founder of ChallengeAid, Iestyn Thomas, and Global Ambassador Waithiegeni Kangeru.

The School of Hope in Kawangware

Our efforts were all directed towards an inspiring cause; the establishment of a School of Hope in Kawangware. This slum, located in Nairobi, is a vibrant but severely underserved community. It is home to some of the world’s most deprived children, with over a million children in Kenya alone missing out on education.

The School of Hope will be built on the same premises as the Kabiro School, a local informal educational institution sustained entirely by the community without government funding. They have generously offered us the use of an outbuilding on their land for our school.

A commitment to the future

The funds we’ve raised will go directly to the community and its children. Our commitment to this school is long-term, and we envision it growing alongside our company. We dream of seeing these students not only complete their education but also move on to higher studies, and who knows, maybe one day they will even have aspirations to work in the shipping industry!

Thank you

A massive thank you and congratulations to all our clients, friends, and the entire Gibson’s team for your incredible dedication, generosity, and support! Together, with the funds raised, we will make a lasting impact in the community of Kawangware.

Gibsons is proud to support ChallengeAid in their mission to provide education to children living in abject poverty in the slums of Kenya and Tanzania. Education is a vital tool in breaking the cycle of poverty, and we are honored to play a part in creating opportunities for these children to thrive.