Maya Universe AcademyNetherlands

Empowering Dreams: Our Half Marathon Adventure

International Women’s Day was an unforgettable day for all of us. Eighteen brave girls, students, and volunteers took on the challenge of running a half-marathon from Damauli to Tanahunsur.

March 8th, 2024 - International Women’s Day was an unforgettable day for all of us at Maya Universe Academy. Eighteen brave girls, students, and volunteers took on the challenge of running a half-marathon from Damauli to Tanahunsur. Even though the local government canceled the annual Byas Women’s Half Marathon just two days before the event, we didn’t let that stop us. We organized our own race at Maya, fueled by determination and the support of our incredible community.
Our running team, the Maya Thunderers, was made up of twelve amazing girls from the school - Jamuna, Simana, Sapana, Urmila, Sabina, Chetena, Pratima, Sudiksha, Susma, Sabina, Kusum, and Roshmi - and seven of us from the Maya family around the world - Cecilie, Meimei, Amy, Anaëlle, Kim, Cecile, and Mara.

Why We Ran
Girls’ education is still overlooked in Nepal, especially in rural areas. Many girls drop out of school by age twelve due to cultural traditions like early marriage and a lack of financial resources. At Maya, we’re changing that story by empowering our female students to pursue higher education and giving them the support they need.

Our Journey
This journey has been a huge learning experience. It’s shown us the power of community, the importance of discipline, and the strength we have when we come together. For two months, we trained six days a week at dawn, balancing our studies and training sessions. The results were incredible: our fastest runners finished in 2h07, 2h09, and 2h10, while the rest of us kept going, crossing the finish line after 3h10 of effort. These challenges only made us more determined and gave the race a special significance.

Personal Reflections
Training with the girls and celebrating our achievement on top of the mountain was an amazing experience. I’m so grateful for the support from all the Mayans around the world and the funds we raised for the girls' education. This race wasn’t just about running; it was about our promise to ourselves: to never give up and never be silent.

Thank You
A huge thank you to everyone who donated and helped us exceed our fundraising goal! Your support means the world to us and will help more Maya girls get to university and further their education.