Alumna and students organize “Walk for Refugees”

With the help of her fifth-grade class at As-Sabeel Academy, Furman University alumna Johnna Malici organized “Walk for Refugees,” a community-based walk aimed to spread awareness on the more than 65.3 million refugees worldwide. The event, which takes place Saturday, March 3 at 10 a.m. in Cleveland Park, will collect proceeds to benefit Islamic Relief Worldwide, an international humanitarian organization that provides development programs and humanitarian relief around the globe.

Malici, who is also the principal of the school, partnered with Katie Kelly, associate professor of education and coordinator of masters in literacy at Furman, to bring the language arts unit on refugees to her classroom. After reading a collection of books, watching videos and researching the current refugee crisis, students organized the awareness week culminating in the walk. Their efforts will be featured in Kelly’s upcoming coauthored book on diverse children’s literature and social justice, titled “Reading to Make a Difference: Literature to Help Students Speak Freely, Think Deeply and Take Action.”

Click here to learn more about “Walk for Refugees.”