“Every time I come from running, I feel very productive and mentally liberated”
Can you introduce yourself…
I am Jérémie Elonga, 26 years old and live in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo. I am a passionate photographer and videographer. I travel through Congo and Africa to capture the stories that unfold before my eyes and I inspire others to pursue their own photography dreams.
Through the lense of an artist, photographer/ filmmaker, what do you love about Kinshasa?
I love the climate of the city of Kinshasa which is very warm and the determination of the people I meet.
What do you love about running?
Every time I come from running, I feel very productive and mentally liberated, which is what I love about running.
What made you decide to run your first marathon this year with us?
What is pushing me to run my first marathon this year, is my personal motivation. I wanted to keep the rhythm of running every day and the best way for me, was to have the challenge to run a marathon.
How do you train yourself physically and mentally? Do you have any coaches or inspirational figures?
I don't have a coach that I train with or an inspiring personality that I follow, but since I started training this year, I challenged myself, to run between 3 to 5 km every day.
Tell us about your relationship with Malaika Foundation and what is your motivation to run and raise funds for a good cause?
I always like to see a woman evolve, because it is thanks to a woman, that I have a good education. I saw with my own eyes, how my mother fought to feed me and buy me clothes. That triggered something in me to have a positive mindset towards all women. So, I decided to participate in the Congo River Marathon 2023 to raise funds for the Malaika Foundation with the aim of empowering girls from the village of Kalebuka to continue their studies.
What is your fundraising goal and how can people find you and join you on your mission and support?
The objective of this fundraiser is to allow girls from the village of Kalebuka in the Democratic Republic of Congo to return to school in order to allow them to pursue their dreams. My goal is to raise $4,000.
People can support me in raising funds and follow me on instagram here:
www.givengain.com/ap/jeremie-elonga-leve-des-fonds-pour-georges-malaika-foundation-inc