Assist America is pleased to announce its co-sponsorship of Shin Fujiyama’s 3,000 km run from the U.S.-Mexico border to Honduras. This extraordinary challenge aims to raise funds to build and repair schools in Honduras, providing children access to quality education in areas affected by natural disasters, poor infrastructure, and a lack of resources.
Shin Fujiyama, the founder of One Thousand Schools project, is taking on the ambitious journey after receiving more than 2,500 requests from Honduran communities asking for help with their schools. The 3,000 km challenge follows his successful 250 km run in 2023, which raised funds to rebuild a school in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
On July 15th, 2024, starting from Reynosa, Mexico, Fujiyama began his trek by completing 42 km a day across Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and into Honduras. His end goal is to reach the city of San Pedro Sula, Honduras, by October 2024.
"Shin Fujiyama has dedicated about 20 years to improving education in Honduras through his organization, and we are honored to support his inspiring mission," said Roberto Peralta Rossner, Director of Assist America's Latin American Branch, "We believe in the power of community-driven efforts, and this project is a testament to what can be achieved through collective action", he concluded.
The funds raised from this challenge will be used to build new schools in Honduras, starting with Escuela Dionisio de Herrera in Río de Piedras, San Pedro Sula. This school, which has gone 90 years without proper maintenance, suffers from collapsing walls, ceilings, and rotting floors - forcing students to study in unsafe and overcrowded conditions.
About Shin Fujiyama and Reto3000
Shin Fujiyama, born in Kanagawa, Japan, and now a U.S. citizen, has become a leading advocate for educational access in Central America. Reto3000 is his latest endeavor to raise awareness and funds for the region's children. As part of this project, Shin will run through Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador before arriving in Honduras, inspiring thousands to join the cause along the way.
Through his organization, One Thousand Schools, Fujiyama has already made a lasting impact in rural Honduras by building schools in underserved communities. His goal is to complete 1,000 schools in the country, addressing the needs of children whose schools were destroyed by natural disasters or lack of resources.
About Assist America
Founded in 1990, Assist America, Inc. is the world's largest provider of Global Emergency Assistance Services in partnership with employee or group benefit plans. Headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, the company serves more than 40 million members through the world's leading group benefit programs.