HISTORY
Seeking to respond to violence and international conflict, Margaret
Hahn and the Omaha Yoga School sought ways to take the cornerstone of their practice, ahimsa--Sanskrit
for “non-violence”--into the world. Ahimsa means more than
simply abstaining from violence; it means to act for the welfare of all
beings. The Hike to Help Refugees is an opportunity for teachers, students
and the entire community to work in partnership to achieve this goal.
In November of 2003, Hahn invited
Jeff Meer, executive director of USA for UNHCR,
to take part in a benefit concert at the First
Unitarian Church to pay for Spanish and French translation of a 25-page
pamphlet featuring an essay written in the week after the 9-11 attack
and responses from Hahn’s students. “The Challenge of Terror:
A Traveling Essay,” was written by Dr. John Paul Lederach, a
widely known professor of international peace building at the Joan
B. Kroc Institute at the University of Notre Dame. Money raised from
the sale of the booklets ($5 apiece) was sent to Meer and USA for UNHCR.
 Tents
supplied by the UNHCR are set up in Chad.
Hahn, her students and fellow teachers, sent booklets to all members of Congress
and to the executive branches, including the office of the President.
Translated copies were sent to all U.N. ambassadors and their staffs.
“She
has reached out and embraced our charity,” Meer said of Hahn. “This
is a wonderful thing. I saw the great respect her students and the
people of Omaha have for her.” Hahn received a certificate from
UNHCR honoring her and the Omaha Yoga School for its work.
2003
The
2003 Hike to Help Refugees was held from May 12th through 18th. Fourteen
hikers raised $4,352. Some hikers walked the entire length of the trail-- 62.3 miles--while
some walked for the weekend and others for one day. This 2003 Hike set the
precedent for future Hikes. These funds provided 126 people in war stricken areas around the
world with a home and provided a model for the Hikes To Help Refugees that would follow.
2004
The 2004 Hike to Help Refugees events kicked off on January 31st, 2004.
The Friends of the Omaha Yoga School hosted Joung-ah Paula Ghedini
to speak at an event entitled "Across the Ocean and In Our Back
Yard: The Plight and Help for Refugees."
Joung-ah Paula Ghedini was appointed in 2002 to head the Public Information Unit of
the Regional Offices of the UN Refugee Agency in Washington, D.C. Ms. Ghedini has been working in humanitarian operations,
especially refugee and emergency crises, for ten years.
The event consisted of music, testimonials and a call to action by Ms.
Ghedini who openly encouraged, thanked, and challenged all present to
tell 10 people about the efforts of Hike To Help Refugees.
The 2004 Hike to Help Refugees took place on May 10-16. The week-long hikers
were joined by USA for UNHCR representative Mike Coburn, who walked
the last two days. The Hike received local media attention and raised
$5,990 for refugees.
2005
The 2005 Hike to Help Refugees raised $20,845. With this, UNHCR provided:
- 100 all-season canvas tents for Sudanese refugees
- 15 complete homes for refugees returning to Afghanistan
- 5 classroom tents for Afghan children
This success was made possible by the 41 hikers who participated and Dr. Dean
Ornish, executive board member of USA for UNHCR, who contributed
$5,000. Hikers ranging
in age from 2 to 62 years came from Nebraska, Iowa and Massachusetts to participate.
Hikers were joined
by Caryl Garcia, executive director of USA for UNHCR, for three
days of the Hike.
Caryl and fellow hikers braved driving rain and lighting
on two days, but spirits
remained undampened! 2005 also marked the first ‘Rocking for Refugees Benefit Concert.’ Omaha
musicians including Goodbye Sunday, Sarah Benck and the Robbers and
Monic Eby donated their time and talents to raise money for USA for
UNHCR.
2006
In 2006, 42 hikers raised $7,907. Adrienne Dunsing, USA for UNHCR staff,
joined the hike for the weekend. The 2006 awareness activities consisted
of a silent auction, a rock band named “The Watch”, a chili supper,
a
Refugee Film Night (“I Am David”, “Turtles Can Fly”, “Beyond
Borders”, “Hotel Rwanda”, and UNHCR information films),
and Tango! (Tango lessons and dancing on the street in Omaha’s
Old Market).
2007
The year 2007 marked the first year of new hikes since the start of the organization.
The year started with a new hike in Omaha. Participants braved a downpour
of rain to raise $4,356.23. The Omaha hike was followed shortly thereafter
by a new hike in Iowa City drawing 109 participants committed to the cause of refugees.
Participants walked 8.5 miles to raise $13,131.44. The year was capped
off by the hike that started everything along the Trace Wabash Nature Trail.
The seven day 60 mile hike which allows additional participants to walk only the
last day or last two days raised $9,120.13.
Additional efforts made in 2007 included the creation of this website and the beginnings
of a repeatable model for future hikes. With each of these efforts in place
it will allow any individual or group around the world to start a hike in their
local community leveraging infrastructure created by the Hike to Help Refugees organization.
2008
In 2008 the organization held 5 hikes in Iowa City, Des Moines, on
the Wabash Trace Nature Trail in NW Iowa, on the Red Cedar Trail in
Wisconsin, and rounded up the year with our second international
hike which is a hike up to Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, Scotland.
To date in 2008 the Hike to Help Refugees organization has raised
over $17,000.
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