And they’re off: 13th Kilimanjaro Challenge launched

This year’s 13th Kilimanjaro Challenge (KC13) will see 16 people climbing the highest free-standing mountain in the world in a bid to raise funds to help an Ethiopian community.

This year’s edition was launched yesterday and follows the €820,000 that has been raised over the last 12 years for 12 projects in Kenya and Ethiopia, all of which were orchestrated by the ‘Missionary Movement Jesus in Thy Neighbour’ founded by the late Fr George Grima.

Challenge founder Keith Marshall explained how the previous 12 expeditions up the mountain had been successful, both in terms of success rates as well as fund-raising prowess. To quantify, in excess of € 820,000 has so far been collected and invested in the construction of a school and convent in the Ethiopian village of Bulbula; a wing for a 3-in-1 project; a house hosting 100 physically disabled, deaf and blind children in Kenya; a clinic in Sakko; a kindergarten school in Gambella; another kindergarten school in Dembidolo area, one in Jemu area and another in Wush, all in Ethiopia. Ehe completion of a Centre for Disabled Children in Bonga, Ethiopia was also financed.

KC co-organiser Austin Cachia yesterday said that this year’s challenge is to collect €100,000 to finance the construction of a primary school in Bonga, Ethiopia. The school is planned to be built on two floors containing 12 classrooms. The idea to implement the project came from the repeated requests from people in the area as Bonga does not have a qualified primary school.

The implementation of the project will have a considerable impact and advantage for the school age children of Bonga town and their families. The direct beneficiaries are 450 children from seven to 12 years of age around Bonga where the project is to be implemented.

The project will also indirectly benefit families of the surrounding communities whose children will have improved education, malnutrition and poverty associated problems.

Expedition member Jonathan Galea said that the team has been training since March and will head to Kilimanjaro, Africa on 31 December. After spending eight days on the mountain, the team will continue their journey onto Ethiopia to inaugurate the project.

The members of KC13 will be organising various events throughout the year to collect the donations. The next event is a BBQ that will be held at the Hilton hotel on the 28 July. All proceeds from this event will go towards financing the project. One can find the event on Facebook or can contact Cinzia Fenech on 7755 8833 for more information.