Share the Journey: Join our fifth walk around the world

Walk in solidarity with refugees and migrants. By walking you will send a powerful message to world leaders that they too need to step up and protect the rights of people on the move.

Thank you so much to everyone who has walked so far. In June 2018, we reached our target of walking 24, 900 miles. Since then we've walked round the world another three times! Now we are on our fifth leg around the world.

The journey will not stop. We are continuing the journey and hope you will join us. Could we make it a fifth time around the world?

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Walk in solidarity with refugees and migrants. By walking you will send a powerful message to world leaders they too need to step up and protect the rights of people on the move. Use our organiser's guide to help plan your walk.

Download the guide

How far have we walked together?

By June 2018 we reached our initial goal of 24,900 miles - the distance around the world.

Since then, we have managed to walk around the world three more times!

Now we want to walk a fifth time around the world.

The totaliser shows how far individuals and groups have walked to support the campaign. It takes us on a virtual journey from Rome - where Pope Francis launched the Share the Journey campaign - to visit the places and meet the people most affected by migration. Read their stories and watch their videos below.

Rome
Lampedusa
Syria
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Myanmar
The Philippines
Nauru
USA
Colombia
Nigeria
South Sudan
Rome
100k105k110k115k120k125k

Current stage
Rome to Lampedusa - 400 miles

We start in Rome, where Pope Francis launched the Share the Journey campaign. In our first stage, we will walk the 700 miles to the Island of Lampedusa.

Pope Francis made his first official visit to this tiny Italian island, where many boats containing refugees and migrants arrive. On the island he held a Mass for migrants and called for an end to the indifference people have shown to the crisis.

Watch Pope Francis launch the Share the Journey campaign

Current stage
Lampedusa to Syria - 1300 miles

Both Lampedusa and Syria have been emblematic of the refugee crisis.

Pope Francis made his first official visit to the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa. He held a Mass for migrants and called for an end to the indifference people have shown to the crisis.

As Syria’s civil war heads towards its eighth year, it has become the worst humanitarian crisis of our time. Over 5.4 million Syrians have registered as refugees in neighbouring countries.

Current stage
Syria to Afghanistan - 1400 miles

The increased number of refugees and migrants seeking a new life in Europe is largely a consequence of humanitarian crises around the world. The majority were fleeing conflict in Syria, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

However, most people on the move are from poor countries, and seek safety in nearby developing countries or within their own country’s borders.

Current stage
Afghanistan to Bangladesh - 1400 miles

Migrant workers from Bangladesh can be exploited when they seek work overseas to support their families. An estimated 800,000 people migrate each year from Bangladesh to the Middle East and  South East Asia.

CAFOD partners provide legal advice for those travelling and local jobs to help families stay together.

Current stage
Bangladesh to Myanmar - 300 miles

More than 650,000 people are now estimated to have fled to Bangladesh, escaping violence in Rakhine State in neighbouring Myanmar. Most of the refugees are staying in cramped conditions in
makeshift refugee camps.

CAFOD supports local organisations to provide shelter, food and clean water for those who have lost everything.

Current stage
Myanmar to The Philippines - 1600 miles

Cardinal Tagle of the Philippines, president of Caritas International, launched the Share the Journey campaign by sharing his grandfather’s story as a migrant arriving in the Philippines from China. 

He said: “There are specific moments in the life of a person, a family or the whole human family when we need to be reminded of this fundamental truth that we have been given each other so that we would have someone to share our journeys with”

Current stage
The Philippines to Nauru - 3100 miles

Low lying Pacific Island states, like the Island of Tuvalu, are on the front line of climate change.  It has only 26 square kilometres of dry land, none of it more than four metres above sea level. Most of the 12,000 population live less than two metres above sea level.

In his encyclical Laudato Si’, Pope Francis talks about “the tragic rise in the number of migrants seeking to flee from the growing poverty caused by environmental degradation.”

Current stage
Nauru to the USA - 5300 miles

World leaders will be negotiating two new UN agreements in New York - one on migration and one on refugees.

These agreements could offer hope and protection to people forced to flee their homes, but only if our governments listen to refugees, migrants and the communities where they live.

Sign our petition to the Prime Minister

Current stage
The USA to Colombia - 1000 miles

In Colombia, millions of people have been forcibly displaced from their homes. The country is scarred by over 50 years of armed conflict. It has one of the highest numbers of displaced people in
the world, second only to Syria.

The Catholic Church in Colombia plays a key role as an advocate for peace and human rights, and the resettlement of uprooted communities.

Current stage
Colombia to Nigeria - 5000

Eight years ago, a violent conflict began in Nigeria. Over the last four years this has worsened as Boko Haram, a Nigerian militant Islamist group, has spread its violence into the neighbouring countries of Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

This conflict has caused displacement and human suffering on a massive scale.

Current stage
Nigeria to South Sudan - 1500 miles

In the eleventh stage of our journey, we will walk 1500 miles from Nigeria to South Sudan. 

9 July 2011 marked a momentous occasion – the birth of South Sudan as an independent nation.  

Nearly four years of conflict in South Sudan has forced over 3 million people from their homes and led to 4.9 million people struggling to find enough food to eat. 

Current stage
South Sudan to Rome - 2600 miles

In the final stage of our journey, we will walk 2600 miles from South Sudan to Rome where we started. This is where Pope Francis launched the campaign in September 2017.

Every mile that you have walked has helped to send a message to world leaders that they must step up too. They need to act with courage and compassion when they agree ambitious new UN agreements on refugees and migration.

Thank you! Together we have walked four times the distance around the world!

We've completed stage 12 -
2600 miles from South Sudan to Rome

Thank you for taking part in a Share the Journey walk. Every mile that you have walked has helped to send a message to world leaders that they must step up too. They need to act with courage and compassion when they agree ambitious new UN agreements on refugees and migration.

Take a look at these highlights from your walks

We've completed stage 11 -
1500 miles from Nigeria to South Sudan

9 July 2011 marked a momentous occasion – the birth of South Sudan as an independent nation.  

Nearly four years of conflict in South Sudan has forced over 3 million people from their homes and led to 4.9 million people struggling to find enough food to eat. 

Watch this film to see how CAFOD is helping people who don't have enough to eat in South Sudan.

 

 

 

We've completed stage 10 -
5000 miles from Colombia to Nigeria

Eight years ago, a violent conflict began in Nigeria. Over the last four years this has worsened as Boko Haram, a Nigerian militant Islamist group, has spread its violence into the neighbouring countries of Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

This conflict has caused displacement and human suffering on a massive scale.

Watch this film about the background to the conflict and how CAFOD is supporting internally displaced people in North East Nigeria.

We've completed stage 9 -
1000 miles from the USA to Colombia

In Colombia, millions of people have been forcibly displaced from their homes. The country is scarred by over 50 years of armed conflict. It has one of the highest numbers of displaced people in the world, second only to Syria.

Since the signing of the peace agreement with the FARC (the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) in November 2016, every 4 minutes someone in Colombia has been forced to flee their home.

Watch this film to see how CAFOD partners are helping farmers in Colombia to who have been forced from their lands by armed groups.

 

We've completed stage 8 -
5300 miles from Nauru (Pacific Islands) to the USA

Share the journey campaign banner

In September 2018 world leaders will meet in New York to negotiate two new UN agreements - one on migration and one on refugees.

These agreements could offer hope and protection to people forced to flee their homes. Inspired by Pope Francis’ special concern for people on the move, we are urging Britain to play a leading role in the meetings on migration and refugees.

Find out more about the UN global compacts

We've completed stage 7 -
3100 miles from The Philippines to Nauru (Pacific Islands)

Pacific climate change activists

Low lying Pacific Island states are on the front line of climate change. Nauru has only 26 square kilometres of dry land and most of the 12,000 population live less than two metres above sea level.

Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si’ talks about “the tragic rise in the number of migrants seeking to flee from the growing poverty caused by environmental degradation.”

Pacific Climate Warrior Auimatagi Joseph Moeono-Kolio from Caritas Oceania is calling for action on climate change.

Read Auimatagi's blog on climate change

 

We've completed stage 6 -
1600 miles from Myanmar to the Philippines

Cardinal Tagle is from the Philippines. He is President of Caritas International and recenrtly launched the Share the Journey campaign by sharing his grandfather's story as a migrant arriving in the Philippines from China.

Along with our sister agency Caritas International, we are calling for shared understanding and solidarity with all people who are forced to migrate and seek refuge.

Watch Cardinal Tagle tell his story:

We've completed stage 5 -
300 miles from Bangladesh to Myanmar

Refugees in Jamtoli camp, Bangladesh

More than 650,000 people are now estimated to have fled to Bangladesh, escaping violence in Rakhine State in neighbouring Myanmar. Most of the refugees are staying in cramped conditions in makeshift refugee camps.

CAFOD supports local organisations to provide shelter, food and clean water for those who have lost everything.

Read about CAFOD's visit to a refugee camp in Bangladesh

We've completed stage 4 -
1400 miles from Afghanistan to Bangladesh

CAFOD is working with migrants in Bangladesh

Migrant workers from Bangladesh can be exploited when they seek work overseas to support their families. An estimated 800,000 people migrate each year from Bangladesh to the Middle East and South East Asia.

CAFOD partners provide legal advice for those travelling and local jobs to help families stay together.

Read how our partners protect vulnerable migrants

 

We've completed stage 3 -
1400 miles from Syria to Afghanistan

Refugees in Greece are helped by CAFOD partners

The increased number of refugees and migrants seeking a new life in Europe is largely a consequence of humanitarian crises around the world. The majority of refugees are fleeing conflict in Syria, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

However, most people on the move are from poor countries, and seek safety in nearby developing countries or within their own country’s borders.

Can you tell the facts from the fiction when it comes to the refugee crisis?

Take our quiz to find out more

 

We've completed stage 2 -
1300 miles from Lampedusa to Syria

A girl received aid from CAFOD partner Caritas Lebanon

As Syria’s civil war heads towards its eighth year, it has become the worst humanitarian crisis of our time. Over 5.4 million Syrians have registered as refugees in neighbouring countries.

We are supporting Church partners in Syria, who are providing food parcels, medical aid and relief supplies and helping people to find safe places to stay, in areas held by both government and opposition forces.

Read more about CAFOD’s work in Syria

We've completed stage 1 -
400 miles from Rome to Lampedusa

Lampedusa crosses at CAFOD

Pope Francis made his first official visit to this tiny Italian island, where many boats containing refugees and migrants arrive. Lampedusa crosses have inspired over 40,000 CAFOD supporters in England and Wales to send messages of hope to refugees.

Read about the difference your messages have made