“Unity is the most powerful message we can send to Congo, to Africa, and to the world.”

Miguel Masaisai, 23, is a Congolese endurance athlete from Goma who has turned adversity into purpose. After completing a 7,000 km solo cycling expedition from Goma to Cape Town to promote peace and unity, Miguel is now preparing for his next extraordinary challenge: running 100 kilometer in one day across Kinshasa on January 25, 2026 to raise funds for children’s education in Eastern DRC. Currently training in Kenya, Miguel embodies the power of sport to inspire hope, resilience, and social change.

Miguel, you’ve already completed a 7,000 km cycling journey from Goma to Cape Town — what inspired you to take on this next challenge, 100K For Education?

My journey from Goma to Cape Town showed me something powerful: that sport can be a message. Along those 7,000 kilometers, I met people who had lost hope, people who wanted peace, people who believed Africa could rise again. When I returned home, I realized that the children of Eastern DRC are still paying the highest price of the conflict …many of them can’t access education easily. So the 100KM For Education is my way of saying: “If one person can cover a hundred kilometers in a day, then together we can give thousands of children a future.”

Growing up in Goma, you’ve witnessed firsthand the impact of conflict on children and communities. How does this personal experience shape your mission and motivation?

Growing up in Goma means growing up between hope and uncertainty. I’ve seen children walk to school with fear. I’ve seen families displaced. I’ve seen friends abandon their dreams because of insecurity. These experiences didn’t break me — they shaped me. They gave me a mission: to use my body, my legs, my endurance, to defend people who cannot defend themselves.

You’re currently training in Kenya — can you tell us about your preparation, your daily routine, and what mental and physical challenges you’re facing?

Training in Kenya means training among some of the best endurance athletes in the world. My routine involves long runs, strength training, stretching, and deep recovery. I wake up early, I run with discipline, I eat clean, and I treat recovery as part of the training. The hardest part isn’t the physical pain that it’s the mental consistency. Some days my body is tired, some days I doubt myself, but I remind myself why I started.

Running 100 kilometer in a single day is an immense test of endurance. What drives you in those moments when your body and mind are pushed to the limit?

When the pain comes and it always comes — I think of the children in Eastern Congo who walk long distances for school, who study in tents, who still smile despite everything. If they can endure all that, I can endure 100 kilometers. I also think of my city, Goma, and all the young people watching me. I want to show them that we are stronger than our circumstances, and that hope is not something you wait for it’s something you create.

The final 5 kilometer will be a community run with 300 participants joining you to the finish line. What does that shared moment of unity and support mean to you?

Those final 5 kilometer are the soul of this project. It’s not just me crossing the finish line — it’s a community standing together for education. Seeing 300 people running beside me will be a symbol that when we run together, we rise together. Unity is the most powerful message we can send to Congo, to Africa, and to the world.

Beyond the run itself, what do you hope people — in the DRC and beyond — take away from this project?

I want people to understand that change starts with courage. You don’t need millions of dollars, you don’t need big sponsors but you need a vision. If my run can inspire one young person in Goma, , Lubumbashi, Kolwezi, Masisi, Bukavu, Kinshasa, Nairobi, Johannesburg, or anywhere in Africa to believe in their potential, then I’ve succeeded. I want people to see that sport can build peace, education, and dignity.

Looking ahead, how do you envision sport continuing to play a role in promoting peace, education, and empowerment in Africa?

Sport is one of the most unifying forces in Africa. It crosses borders, tribes, languages, and backgrounds. I believe sport can become a tool for education, mental health, social cohesion, and peacebuilding. My dream is to build programs that bring young people together through endurance, discipline, and teamwork a programs that teach them that they are capable of greatness.

“If we invest in sport, we invest in peace. If we invest in youth, we invest in Africa’s future.”

Follow Miguel on Instagram: @unstoppablemasai and get notified to take part in the last 5 km challenge to complete the 100K together on January 25, 2026: