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At 18, Mathis Vérité Walks Long Distances Every Day, Leaves Before Dawn, Faces Physical and Mental Exhaustion, and Mobilizes Support to Expand Children’s Educational Access
Mathis Vérité, an 18-year-old French student, gained visibility on social media after deciding to walk 32 kilometers every day of the week to fulfill his academic routine and support a charitable cause. The initiative, announced on his Instagram account, drew attention for the discipline involved and the social motivation that underpins the challenge.
A Challenge That Goes Beyond the Campus
At the end of January, the young man explained that the daily walk aims to raise funds to facilitate access to education for children living in desert areas in other parts of the world.
In an interview with local media, Mathis stated that many people complain about waking up early or about long journeys, but there are children without basic conditions to attend school.
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According to him, education should be a right, not a privilege reserved for a few, a reflection that also led him to rethink his own reality.
Demanding Routine Since Dawn
According to the student’s account, the day starts around 3:30 AM, right after the alarm goes off.
Thirty minutes later, he leaves home wearing running shoes, reflective clothing, a flashlight, and carrying a 10-kilogram bag.
Although the distance to the Notre-Dame-de-la-Fidélité Institute is short, Mathis crosses several cities to fulfill the challenge dubbed “480 km to Learn“.
The journey takes between three and three and a half hours, depending on the weather and mood, as he stated. After the school period, he repeats the same walk on the return home, facing daily physical and mental exhaustion.
Student’s Support and Collective Purpose
To facilitate the purchase of bicycles for the children, Mathis relies on the support of Enfants du Désert, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving living conditions, health, and children’s education.
Despite the accumulated fatigue, the young man remains convinced that each step helps to reduce the educational gap and inspires others to take action.
With information from O Globo.
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