Mehdi Debbrah: his journey, in his own words

A few words about Mehdi Debbrah

After several adventures on foot, walking from Paris to Venice, to San Sebastián in Spain and to Copenhagen, Mehdi set himself an even bigger challenge in 2022: walking from Paris to Algiers, some 10,000 km. The project, which ended in August 2023, was about much more than physical endurance. It was a personal tribute to his late father, and it had a humanitarian side too: raising money for water towers and food parcels.

A caring community on social media

With almost 500,000 followers on Instagram and 1.2 million on TikTok, Mehdi filmed his journey every day. In short videos he shares the highs and lows of the road: the hard days, the moments of joy, the landscapes where he pitches his tent, and the simple meals he eats by the light of his head torch. His videos also show the generosity of the people he meets, whatever the region. Many offer him food, drink or a bed for the night, and some even help him carry his rucksack, which weighs nearly 18 kilos.

A humanitarian mission at the heart of the project

Behind this extraordinary adventure lies a genuine charitable cause. Using his popularity on social media, Mehdi put the spotlight on LIFE, the charity he teamed up with to fund humanitarian projects. His original goal was to raise money to build a well in Togo, but his community's generosity went far beyond anything he had hoped for. The appeal raised more than 83,000 euros, enough to fund several projects: drilling for water towers in Niger and Indonesia, food parcels in Algeria and Tunisia, and bicycles for schoolgirls in Bangladesh.

And now, our interview with the adventurer himself!

1) Could you introduce yourself?

I'm Mehdi Debbrah, and I love walking. On social media, a lot of people know me as "debbraahworld".

I started my walks in 2015, and from 2019 I began doing them alone. That second walk, a journey from Paris to Venice on foot, was a real turning point for me. It helped me fund several humanitarian projects, mostly outreach rounds for homeless people at first: modest projects, but meaningful ones. My 2022 walk from Paris to Algiers took things to another level. I crossed 5 countries in 5 months, covered more than 10,000 km and set up an appeal that helped a great many people around the world. Today, at 29, born and raised in Paris, I'm still walking with the same passion. For me, walking is much more than a way of getting around: it's a philosophy of life.

2) What led you to get involved in humanitarian work and to support causes like LIFE's?

Honestly, I've never really seen myself as someone "committed" to humanitarian work in the strict sense. It isn't something I went looking for or planned. I think it comes largely from my upbringing. My parents always taught me how important it is to help others, and in the end it became second nature. In a way, my commitment grew naturally, without forcing anything. While walking, I discovered it was also an incredible opportunity to bring people together around shared causes. It let me rally a real community behind practical action. For me, that's where walking and humanitarian work meet: in that power to bring people together and to give.

3) Why did you choose LIFE?

When I started organising walks, I was funding outreach rounds through a small charity in my neighbourhood. But I soon wanted to get involved in something longer-lasting, with more impact. So I did some research, and that's how I discovered LIFE. What won me over was its commitment to practical projects like building wells and water towers, infrastructure that genuinely improves people's lives. Friends of mine also knew the charity and spoke very highly of it. That's how I decided to work with LIFE. Through my walks, I've been able to fund several projects bringing access to clean drinking water, and that has really motivated me to keep going.

4) How important do you think social media is today for raising awareness and rallying people behind charitable causes?

Social media has become an incredible tool for sharing causes and making them known. During my walk from Paris to Algiers, the goal was to raise money to build a water tower. I never expected it to grow so big. I imagined raising a few thousand euros, 5,000 or 6,000 at most, and thought I'd have to fund the rest myself. But against all expectations, the appeal reached 86,000 euros thanks to people rallying on social media. That's when I realised just how powerful these platforms can be. They let you reach a huge audience and amplify initiatives in record time. It's a real force: anything is possible when you use them wisely.

5) What impact would you like to have on the young people who follow you and are interested in humanitarian work?

I'm not sure I necessarily want to "set an example", because that's a big responsibility. But I'd like to inspire young people by showing them that sharing can be an amazing source of motivation. On my walks, it was watching the appeal grow and seeing the real impact of the donations that kept me going. Every euro raised made me feel I wasn't walking for nothing. On top of that, I met wonderful people, discovered new cultures and crossed breathtaking landscapes. If I were to have an impact, it would be to show that you have to believe in your dreams. When I started, I'd never have imagined that a walk to fund one water tower would lead to several being built. So if I have one message, it's this: believe in your projects, even the craziest ones!

6) What values guide your actions and your commitment day to day?

Day to day, I try to live by values that are simple but essential. For example, I make sure I eat a balanced diet, choosing local and seasonal produce. Solidarity is also a key value for me: even if I can't act every day, I always try to help whenever the chance arises. In every project I take on, I try to build in a charitable side. Respect for others, sharing and, of course, self-respect are the principles that constantly guide me. Walking itself is a form of commitment, both personal and charitable.

7) What is your most treasured memory from these walks?

Picking just one memory from everything I've experienced on my walks is really hard. Every stage, every encounter has its own meaning. But if one moment stands out, it's meeting my grandfather in Algeria. It was an especially powerful moment for me, not only emotionally but symbolically too. When he looked me straight in the eye and told me he was proud of me, it was one of the most beautiful gifts I've ever received. Those words, "you've done me proud", resonated deep inside me. It was more than recognition: it was a validation of my path and my commitment, and a direct connection with my roots.

Seeing him so moved, I realised how far my actions reached beyond anything I'd imagined. This walk, meant to fund humanitarian projects, allowed me not only to help communities in need but also to strengthen family ties and rediscover pieces of my own story. That moment with my grandfather was a true high point, a kind of personal and family achievement.

8) If you had to sum up LIFE's impact in three words, which would you choose, and why?

For me, LIFE is first and foremost about universality. The charity works across borders, wherever the need is. Next comes diversity. On my walks with LIFE, I've been able to fund not only water towers but also education and reforestation projects. And finally, love, because it's what drives all this work. Without love and empathy, none of these initiatives could succeed.

9) A final message for your community and for everyone who wants to get involved in charitable projects?

I want to sincerely thank everyone who has given to my appeals, whatever the size of their gift. Each person has played their part, and it's thanks to this collective solidarity that real projects come to life. With my new projects, my goal is to help even more people, especially given the state of the world today. I warmly encourage everyone to get involved. Helping others doesn't only do good for the people you help; it changes you too. Since I've been involved in this work, I feel better in my personal and professional life, and in every part of my day-to-day. Sometimes just thinking back to those moments is enough to bring back a sense of inner peace.