It's not everyday that you come across an initiative that in one mission combines community empowerment, socioeconomic development, shattering of stereotypes, establishing sustainable tourism and encouraging people to travel and explore.
And that's what makes the Abraham Path Initiative extraordinary, its goals are that ambitious and its vision is to connect humanity, one trek at a time.
API is an international non-profit organization that has been actively working since 2007 to develop the Abraham Path, a long-distance walking trail across the Middle East that retraces the journey of humanity's ancestor, Abraham.
The initiative works with local organizations to simultaneously develop and promote the path itself as a trekking and hiking travel destination and develop the local communities through training and entrepreneurship opportunities.
The initiative has so far completed more than 670 miles of the path, which was rated the No. 1 best new walking trail by National Geographic Travel in 2014.
It has also connected more than 110 communities which have welcoming home-stay hosts and tour guides that share the cultural heritage, history and natural beauty of the Middle East with thousands of travelers each year.
The current route of the Abraham Path covers more than 2,000 kilometers across 19 regions that can be walked in and they are divided into individual stages for each day.
Although API received a grant from the World Bank in 2014 to develop the part of the path that lies in the West Bank, the path is long and the work is far from over. Like all non-profits, API has to keep raising funds.
In October, the initiative started the crowdfunding campaign "Abraham Path: Walk the Middle East" to raise more funds for developing the local communities along the path.
They consider that to be more important now, a time in which the Middle East is facing major crises and challenges, than ever.
"We believe that the Abraham Path facilitates interactions that unite rather than divide, and promote hope rather than fear. The Middle East has never been more in need of openness, opportunity and hope than it is right now," read the campaign's message.
In less than a month, the campaign has already surpassed its initial goal of $20,000, which is half of its stretch goal.
The ultimate goal of API however is even bigger than shattering stereotypes about the Middle East and developing its local communities.
Through encouraging people to walk together in the footsteps of one of humanity's most legendary ancestors, the initiative hopes that the Abraham Path fosters "deep human connections" and inspires "understanding, prosperity and hope for humanity".
To contribute to the Abraham Path Initiative's efforts, visit its Indiegogo campaign page .