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When Meeka Nangmalik decided she wanted to do something to help women, she had to look no further for inspiration than her own two feet.
Last week, Nangmalik was scheduled to set out on an epic walk from Iglulik to Hall Beach and back, a distance totalling 150 kilometres, weather permitting.
The goals behind her efforts are two-fold: to fundraise for a much-needed daycare in the community and to overcome an abusive past relationship.
"Because there's lots of young women that haven't finished school because of lack of babysitters I think (a daycare) would really help young women to achieve their dream," said Nangmalik, 39, and a mother of three.
In Iglulik, the Ajagutaq Daycare Society has been working since December 2007 to establish a daycare in the community. There have been past efforts to do so, but none have yet succeeded.
Julie Ross, one of five board members for the society, said the group will have to raise about $500,000. After a few short months, they've raised $2,000 through activities such as pancake breakfasts and table sales. Ross isn't sure how much Nangmalik's fundraising walk will bring in, but by midweek last week, pledges totalled about $1,000.
"High school students and younger (students) stay home from school to take care of younger siblings," said Ross. "We have letters from community members stating that."
Ross said the society has collected 60 letters from people in the community outlining the need for a daycare, including several teachers who have recently left the community because of a lack of appropriate child care.
Even though Ross has three babysitters to call on, sometimes they aren't available and the community in general has a shortage of babysitters.
The society is hoping that a daycare would help young women in high school as well as open up the job market for parents who would otherwise have to stay home because of a lack of child care.
For Nangmalik the journey is also a personal one, borne out of a past abusive relationship and a need to highlight women's issues.
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It won't be an easy walk, with untouched snow and going through polar bear habitat.
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Nangmalik, who is an Inuktitut teacher at Ataguttaaluk high school, said she hopes her journey will show her students that they can engage in activities when they're bored.
"A lot of students are really excited too that I'm going for a walk so I think that makes them think a little," she said. "I think some people are shocked at what I'm doing and some people are really supportive. I met with a couple ladies that were really happy to hear that I'm doing it for women."
-reprinted from The Northern News Service