NO BACKPACK DAY
Changing the world one backpack at a time.
No BackPack Day is a day that Kids in the US goes to school without their backpacks, carrying all their books and school supplies in their hands or in plastic bags so as to raise awareness for the millions of kids around the world who have to walk miles to school carrying their books and school supplies in their hands or in plastic bags because they cannot afford a backpack.


Mongai Fankam, Founder No BackPack Day
About Award Winning sixteen year old Mongai Fankam
Mongai Fankam is an award-winning 16 year-old American young lady who is, an activist, avid supporter for under privileged children and entrepreneur. Mongai has met with some World renowned leaders in line with her education advocacy work. She has shared the stage with Dr. Joyce Banda former President of the Republic of Malawi, Dr. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim former President of the Republic of Mauritius, Mrs. Leymah Gbowee 2011 Nobel Peace Prize winner and Mayor Jennifer Roberts Mayor of Charlotte, Mrs. Ligia Fonseca, First Lady of the Republic of Cape Verde, Mrs. Maureen Mwanasawa the former first lady of Zambia and former President of OAFLA and a host of others. She has met with the former Prime Minister of Cameroon, His Excellency Mr. Yang Philemon. Mongai was invited to the US Senate to meet with Senator Chris Coons. Mongai was invited on an official visit to Cape Verde by the First Lady of Cape Verde in June 2018 and she was able to meet with President Fonseca as well as the US Ambassador to Cape Verde.
At the tender age of 3, Mongai’s mother began taking her on mission trips to Cameroon, Africa. As Mongai got older, she realized that most of the children in rural areas of Cameroon had to walk miles to school and had no backpacks to carry their supplies in. Mongai decided to take action so she shared her concern with her teacher. Mongai wanted her schoolmates at Blythe Elementary School to donate backpacks and school supplies for the children of Cameroon on the condition that the kids come to school for a day without their backpacks! They would have to carry all their supplies and books in hand or in plastic bags just as the Cameroon children do every day. The principal at Blythe Elementary, staff and entire student body rallied their support for the cause and designated it as “No Backpack Day”! Since 2012, close to 40 schools in Charlotte have also joined in on “No Backpack Day” and more than 20000 backpacks with supplies have been given to the children of Cameroon, Cape Verde, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Togo, Toronto, Uganda, Zimbabwe and locally in North Carolina. Mongai hopes that “No Backpack Day” will continue to spread to more schools so eventually no child will have to go to school carrying their books in plastic bags or in hand. Mongai recently launched her T-shirt line “Moh-tivity” fashions. Part of the proceeds from the T. Shirt is used to support No BackPack Day initiatives other causes dear to her heart.
No BackPack Day In The News
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No BackPack Day is a great way for students to walk a day in the life of those less fortunate. Empathy is a great teacher.


A BIG thank you to participating schools
Blythe Elementary School Huntersville
Charlotte Country Day
Carolina International School
J.M Alexander Middle School Huntersville
North Meck High School Huntersville
Costwold Elementary Charlotte
Randolph Middle School Charlotte
Victory Christian Center School
CT Walker Middle School Augusta GA
Piedmonr High School Charlotte
Mountain Island Elentary charlotte
Westerly Hills Elentary Charlotte
Harding High University Charlotte
SmithFiledd Academy Elementary Charlotte
Landsdowne Elementary Charlotte
East Meck High School Charlotte
Harding High University
Waddle Language Academy
Huntingtowne Farms Elementary Charlotte
NC
W.J Gurganus Elementary Havelock NC
Trinity Episcopal School
McKinney Academy Davidson Charlotte NC
Thomasboro Academy Elementary Charlotte
Shamroock Garden Elementary Charlotte NC
Torrence Creek Elementary Huntersville
Christian Montessori School Huntersville NC
Lake Norman Chartered Huntersville NC
Corvian Chartered charlotte NC
Myers Park Traditional Elementary
Grand Oak Elementary Huntersville
Davidson Elementary
Albermarle Rd Middle Shcool Charlotte
West Charlotte High School
Cornelius Elementary