Team Uhuru raises P200k for rape survivors
Team Uhuru, a group of seven hikers who recently embarked on a summit to Africa’s highest mountain, Mt Kilimanjaro have managed to raise an estimated P200 000 for rape survivors.
The seven members - Keletso Gareebine, Coordinator of the initiative, Papiso Makwati, Oankgoga Monkgogi Mthakgathi, Olerato Duna, Masego Mokgatlhane, Pinkie Montsho, and Jakes Motlhabane returned from Tanzania, in high spirits.
Uhuru, is a Swahili word which means freedom, and it is symbolic to the main objective of the expedition which is ‘ Fighting for the Right to be Free and independent from rape’. Of the seven, two did not reach the Uhuru peak at 5, 895 metres, and summited at Stella Point, which is just before Uhuru peak and stands at an altitude of 5, 756 metres. The group seeks to raise awareness about the effects of rape on the mental health of survivors, and to ensure that there is access to counselling services for boys and girls aged 12 to 21 years, who as a consequence of having been raped, are now grappling with mental health challenges. For the pilot project, they are targeting 40 children and will expand from there.
In Botswana, rape has reached alarming statistics. And according to the World Population Review, Botswana is the second highest country with rape stats at 92.9 per 100,000 people in 2020.
According to the Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, since the outbreak of Covid- 19 and by January 2021, the country had recorded 4996 Gender Based Violence ( including rape) cases reported nationwide.
Additionally, Gareebine who is a rape survivor wants to use her own personal experience with mental health problems as a consequence of the rape to assist those that are also going through mental health challenges as a result of having been raped.
But the journey to eventually stand at the top of the highest mountain in Africa was not smooth sailing for her.
She was raped at the age of 13, and it has taken her 20 years to openly share this painful story. Sharing the story of their expedition during their welcome ceremony this week, Gareebine, detailed how, in the midst of the celebrations of summiting when the rest of the team was in jubilation, she could not celebrate with them.
She remembers feeling dizzy, and felt like she was about to vomit. “My guide literally dragged me down the Mountain because when you are in that state you start to deteriorate.
“I remember asking him whether I was dying. I remember telling him that I am tired, and wanted to sleep,” she added, noting that as she descended down to base camp, her guide reminded her about tolerance, which is what one needs if one is to summit and return home in one piece.
Today, Gareebine is the only one in the group who is yet to recover fully.
Speaking in an interview, Gareebine said they have so far identified at least 10 children. They will now move to the second objective of the initiative, which is to offer them counselling. But it will not be an easy road for the survivors.
It has taken her 20 years, and they do not expect any of the survivors to open up easily judging by what they have gone through.
“We hope that somebody will get to where I am today, and we want to assure them that it is possible”, she said adding that they will help the children cross the bridge one child at a time. The plan is to move to the second objective by the end of this month.
Mthakgathi, the captain of the expedition also did not have it easy going up Mt. Kilimanjaro. One thing he has learnt and will carry forward in his life is the art of patience, which one needs if one is to be successful at summiting the mountain. Part of the team’s preparations included hiking Otse hills, and some of the team members climbing two points in Table Mountain, as well as embarking on 48 kilometres walk to Otse.
The group was sponsored by Bomaid, Komatsu, Botswana Stock Exchange, Cresta, Dlala, Berocca, Decathlon, Palm Media, Brand Alert, MRI, Epiroc, Ambassade De France Botswana and Flight Connect.