Discover how one walk sparked lasting impact when Walking the Talk Foundation founder Dale van Blerk walked 600km to repair flood-damaged schools in KwaZulu-Natal.
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
Back on 4 January 2023, Walking the Talk Foundation founder Dale van Blerk took his first steps from Rivonia, Johannesburg, beginning a journey that would stretch across 600 kilometres, multiple provinces, and nearly three weeks of relentless summer heat.
The destination was clear: KwaZulu-Natal.
The purpose was urgent.
You might remember the floods. In April 2022, they tore through KwaZulu-Natal, leaving communities in pieces. Two places hit especially hard were Dawede Primary School and St. Nivards Primary School. The destruction was so severe that theSt. Nivards Primary School for learners, and tragically, members of the community also lost their lives.
Imagine that: the very buildings where kids should feel secure and eager to learn had become a risk. For hundreds of children, that was their new reality.
So, Dale walked. He walked to shout from the rooftops about what happened. He walked to raise funds. He walked because those perilous structures needed to come down, and proper, dignified classrooms needed to go up. It came down to a simple promise: a child’s future shouldn’t be threatened by the walls around them.
For 17 days straight, Dale averaged about 35km a day. The heat often climbed past 30°C. Every step on that tar was a lesson in the gap between wanting to help and actually making it happen—and the sheer effort required to close that gap.
There were certainly difficult moments along the journey — long and lonely stretches of highway, unexpected rainstorms, lack of sleep, blisters, and poor nutrition. Very early mornings tested both body and mind, and the inevitable aches set in. Plans often had to change at a moment’s notice, demanding constant adaptability. Yet none of these challenges outweighed the purpose of the walk. Every kilometre completed served as a powerful reminder that each step was bringing us closer to rebuilding a school and restoring hope to a community.
Finally, on 28 January, he reached the gates of Dawede Primary School in KwaZulu-Natal. That finish line was more than symbolic; it was deeply personal. Standing there, seeing the need firsthand, it all became starkly, undeniably real.
This initial journey kicked off everything for Walking the Talk Foundation. It defined our mission: to repair, rebuild, and reimagine schools for communities that need them most.
It was more than a physical challenge; it was a call to action. And that call hasn’t stopped.
The need for safe, proper schools across South Africa is still urgent. But with every step WTTF takes, every partner who joins us, and every person who chips in, we get a little closer.
When we actually walk the talk, we’re not just opening school doors. We’re opening spaces where kids can learn, grow, and believe in a better tomorrow—with dignity and hope intact.
One person did the walking, but a whole community provided the fuel.
All along the route, the support poured in from family, friends, strangers in small towns, and committed corporate partners. It looked different every day: a place to sleep, a meal, cold water, a top-up for airtime, or a lift to get back on the N3 route.
Every single bit of help, big or small, kept the mission moving. It also sent a powerful message: we all believe that education is non-negotiable, and safe schools are the absolute foundation.
Dale and Walking The Talk Foundation are deeply grateful for the collective support that made this awareness walk possible. And for the ongoing support as WTTF has continued the journey to conquering learning poverty.
Keep your eyes peeled for the next instalment via WTTF’s blogs.
Do you feel as strongly as we do that every child deserves a safe environment in which to learn? That education is key to their futures? And that preparing the next generation to contribute meaningfully is how South Africa can soar?
Then partner with Walking The Talk Foundation as our journey continues.
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