A Toghu Marathoner, Kizito Fondzenyuy gets a lifetime humanitarian award from the US President and People Empowering People (PEP) Africa.
3 min readA Cameroonian born and founder of Amom Foundation, Afowiri Kizito Fondzenyuy has continued to impact lives through his humanitarian-oriented Toghu Marathon. Recently, he was Guest of Honor and equality recognized with a life time humanitarian award during the the commemoration of the 2023 World Humanitarian Day in Houston Texas, United States of America. The event which took place on 19 August was organized by People Empowering People (PEP) Africa/partners and President Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) to marked the commemoration of the World Humanitarian Day under the theme #NoMatterWhat .
Fondzenyuy recently finished a 42.165-kilometre distance during the Boston Marathon while wearing his Toghu. He participated in the Marathon that took place On 17 April 2023 to raise money for the Amom Foundation who are working on several projects to help disadvantaged children have quality education in Cameroon.
As reported by OTOWNGIST, The US President Joe Biden honored over 100 humanitarian actors from the USA in an event where they interact, learn, listen, and share in a fun and creative way. Afowiri Kizito Fondzenyuy has been running marathons wearing a traditional regalia from the North West Region of Cameroon known as Toghu.
He was among the 35 recipients of the 2023 President Volunteer Service Award. In 2003, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation founded the President’s Volunteer Service Award to recognize the important role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity.
This award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action, too.
“I went back home and decided to run in Toghu which represents our tradition and culture in North-West Cameroon and I have been running marathons across the world with it…Running in Toghu has made me a special marathoner because I promote my rich cultural heritage and it has also helped me raise funds for the causes I believe in such as education and research”, he said, before receiving the award.
It is worth noting that he has run a total of 15 marathons with 3 of them, London, Athens and Boston while wearing Toghu, Afowiri looks to extend this World Record at the Sydney Marathon in September and then in Tokyo, Japan, March 2024.
While thanking the organizers of the event for honoring him, he promised to do more for humanity. “This is a very special moment in my life and I want to thank the PEP Africa International and the President Volunteer Service Award for this honor”
He thanked and expressed gratitude to those who have donated to his cause. “I also want to thank everyone who has donated to my causes and everyone who has been there for me from the onset, this one’s for you”, he said.
Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.