Local charity looking for volunteers to climb mountain
Brentford based African development charity, Excellent Development, is seeking supporters to join an expedition climbing Kilimanjaro to raise funds for its work in rural semi-arid Africa. The charity works with Kenyan community groups who are pioneering a simple technique to combat the growing pressures of drought, deforestation and climate change in some of the driest regions of Africa.
As if climbing the highest peak in Africa wasn’t challenge enough, the 16 day expedition culminates in 5 days spent working with a local community to build a sand dam, creating a permanent water source and transforming the local environment.
As Excellent Development founder Simon Maddrell points out “this enables volunteers to not only prevent the impacts of drought, by funds raised through sponsorship, but to experience first hand through the building of a sand dam, how this is being achieved by the communities we are working with”.
The problems created by deforestation and climate change are threatening even the great ‘unconquerable one’ herself, with Kilimanjaro set to lose all its snow in the next decade. This has prompted The Observer’s Robin McKie, to name Kilimanjaro one of the ‘Ten Wonders of the Vanishing World’. However, according to McKie “what is far more worrying, is the plight of the local people, whose life is under threat because of drought”
This is where Excellent Development’s work makes a contribution; their three tier approach of digging terraces and building sand dams, which enable the planting of trees, combine noticeably to alter the micro-climate, reverse deforestation and permanently improve the local water supply.
On a mountain choc-a-block with charity walkers this is an expedition with a difference, a chance not only to experience the disappearing wonder of Kilimanjaro’s snows, but to support the communities these changes are threatening.
Two trips are available: 10 day Kilimanjaro Challenge, which includes a visit to a tree nursery in Tanzania and 16 day Kilimanjaro and Sand Dam Challenge, which includes a 5 day visit to sand dam and tree nursery projects in Kenya, and a one day safari.
The trip will take place from 7th September 2007 to either the 16th September or 23rd September, depending on which challenge you choose. Minimum sponsorship of £1800 is required to take part in the Kilimanjaro Challenge, and £2400 to take part in the Kilimanjaro and Sand Dam Challenge.
For more information visit: www.excellentdevelopment.com/oursponsor.php
February 1, 2007
|