NORFOLK, Neb. -- The 2022 Relay for Malawi aimed to make a beautiful difference, on a beautiful day, Saturday. 

"Malawi is a very poor country, geographically smaller than Nebraska but the population is ten times the population of Nebraska," Joe Mtika said. "But education is not a strength over there [...] The chances of anyone going to college in Malawi is less than one percent, so I just felt God led me to this."

Mtika started Norfolk Schools in Malawi in 2015. He has held a run annually to fund it, starting when he ran 32 miles before the school was even created, in 2013.

 "I asked my board if I can raise money because I run on a regular basis, and they said I could, so I ran from Wayne State to Norfolk," Mtika said. "This has been quite a journey since God gave me the vision to start a school in Malawi."

His school has already seen 40 students come to study in Norfolk.

Saturday the runners started at Ta Ha Zouka Park, with the walkers joining later.  

"It's for a great cause and I love helping out," said his neighbor, Casey Johnson. 

"Just to help Joe and the students in Malawi to come here and to go through school," said Stacie Wolfe, board member. 

Runners set a goal of $10,000. The challenge wasn't just finding sponsors, but "running up those hills!" laughed Wolfe. 

Ideally, the funds can help their school to expand on land they acquired recently. 

"I am very excited about the future of Norfolk Public Schools in Malawi," Mtika said.

He's boosted the social media and marketing strategies of the school recently, too. He said he's especially eager for its growth after the pandemic shut the school down. 

Norfolk Schools in Malawi is also seeing more partnerships, in recent times. 

"[Originally,] I approached Norfolk Public Schools and asked them to help us out, and over the years we've also partnered with Northeast Community College where a lot of these students end up graduating, and Wayne State is opening up," Mtika said. 

While many come to northeast Nebraska for education, others have graduated from schools in India and Europe, too. 

The Malawi school has been growing. It was supposed to move to a bigger location, but the pandemic has caused it to close down on and off over the last two years. However, they do have more land and are increasing marketing. 

Sunday, Mtika will be taking computers and school supplies to Malawi. He'll check seven bags, and take them across the international trip by himself.