“We can´t change the world, but we can change ourselves and inspire others to do the same.”
Extreme athlete Norman Bücher is running around the world as a youth ambassador to give young people a voice. He talks to them about our future and asks them seven key questions about their expectations, hopes, and fears. Bücher will present the collected concerns at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September 2026.
The “7 CONTINENTS” project
The project does not focus on athletic performance but on encounters with people. Bücher is dedicating his run around the world to dialogue with children and young people. He wants to give them a voice, learn what matters to them, and understand what they expect from adults. He wants to inspire people to make a difference. “We can´t change the world, but we can change ourselves and inspire others to do the same,” he says in one of his videos.
Bücher is running approximately 20,000 kilometers in several stages through 70 countries on seven continents. Along the way, he uses encounters to engage in conversation with young people. Additionally, numerous lectures and workshops are planned. The microphone Bücher carries not only records the concerns of children and young people but also serves as a symbol for giving weight to the collected voices and carrying them out into the world.
Seven questions that connect
The conversations are framed by seven central questions from different categories:
- What is your biggest dream?
- What scares you?
- What makes you happy?
- What do you expect from the future?
- What would you like to tell heads of state and government?
- What does nature mean to you?
- If you were mayor of your city, what would you change first?
These questions are intended not only to capture opinions but also to show what connects young people worldwide.
Stages so far
After a kick-off leg across Germany, Bücher started his Europe leg in Berlin in May 2019 and ran almost 2,300 kilometers to Istanbul in 54 days. From February 8, 2020, to March 3, 2020, he completed the Asian leg, covering 1,000 km from Thimphu (Bhutan) to Kathmandu (Nepal).
Current Leg through East Africa
On July 17, 2025, the Africa leg started in Rwanda. From there, Bücher ran through Uganda to Kenya. In total, he covered approximately 1,200 kilometers and several thousand meters of altitude. At the beginning of his tour, he was accompanied by a “local guide” and a cameraman, as a documentary film about this leg is to be made, capturing the encounters and impressions. Two weeks later, Bücher traveled alone. The continued journey without a team quickly became challenging, as all situations now had to be managed alone. In his encounters and conversations with the local people, Bücher experiences much openness, warmth, and above all, joy of life.
Sponsorship partnership
With his “7 CONTINENTS” project, Bücher wants to encourage people to make a positive difference in the world so that future generations have a livable future. With his project, Bücher demonstrates great courage and a strong will to make a change. He creates space for genuine encounters and motivates people to approach each other, talk to each other, and listen to each other.
We are delighted to support and accompany the project as a sponsor.
This post will be regularly updated with progress on the journey.
Feel free to subscribe to follow us on social media to not miss any news.
———————————————
Further information about the project can be found at the following link:
Image source: 7 CONTINENTS, Norman Bücher
