The 5KM Freshe Family Fun Walk is bringing families, young people and the wider community together for a morning of movement, connection and giving back, with a focus on promoting healthier lifestyles and supporting the Lozitha community.
Wellness takes on a new meaning when it brings people together for a shared purpose. The 5KM Freshe Family Fun Walk is built around this idea, creating an opportunity for people of all ages to get active, spend quality time with loved ones and make a meaningful contribution to their community.
“We wanted to create something that goes beyond simply walking,” one of the organisers Nelson Matsebula explains.
“It is an opportunity to promote healthier lifestyles while also encouraging a culture of community support and social responsibility.”
Designed as more than just a walk, the initiative combines fitness, family fun and social responsibility, encouraging participants to embrace healthier lifestyles while supporting those around them. At its heart is the belief that wellness should be inclusive, enjoyable and accessible to everyone.
The choice of Lozitha National High School and its surrounding community reflects the initiative’s commitment to making a direct impact. “We wanted the initiative to have a direct and meaningful impact on young people and the community around them,” said Matsebula.
By engaging learners, families, educators and residents, the walk aims to encourage healthy habits and strengthen community participation, with schools serving as an important starting point for positive lifestyle changes.
Adding a meaningful purpose to every step, participants are encouraged to bring sealed toiletries or sanitary products as their entry contribution. These donations are intended to help address basic hygiene needs, particularly among young people who may not always have access to these essentials.
“The donation component is very important to us because we want participation in the walk to translate into real community impact.”
“You are not only coming to walk; you are coming to make a difference.”
The name Freshe captures the spirit of the experience, representing a fresh approach to wellness, positive energy, new beginnings and the power of community.
“Freshe represents all of those things. It represents a fresh approach to wellness, a fresh start, positive energy and the idea of coming together as a community,” he said.
“It is bigger than fitness. It is about creating a positive lifestyle and community movement.”
This spirit extends into the initiative’s partnership with Kota Festival, which provides a platform for bringing wellness into a vibrant environment of culture, food, entertainment and community engagement.
“The festival has grown into a platform that brings together culture, communities, brands, entrepreneurship and entertainment, and wellness naturally forms part of that bigger picture.”
The collaboration adds another dimension to the festival experience, encouraging people to connect, move, give back and think about their wellbeing while enjoying the broader festival atmosphere.
The organisers also believe that initiatives like this can play an important role in encouraging young people to lead healthier, more active lives. By making physical activity fun, social and inclusive, the walk aims to show that staying active does not have to be complicated.
“If we can make being active fun, social and inclusive, it becomes something they can enjoy rather than something they feel they have to do.”
For those still deciding whether to participate, the invitation is about more than completing a 5KM route. It is an opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere, spend time with family and friends, meet members of the community and contribute to a meaningful cause.
“You would be missing the energy, the people, the music, the movement and, most importantly, the opportunity to be part of something bigger than yourself,” Matsebula said.
With movement, music, community spirit and giving at its centre, the Freshe Family Fun Walk is a reminder that small steps can make a difference, especially when people take them together.
