‘This year’s climb is to demonstrate women power’

Members of the 2019 Trek4Mandela expedition say this year’s climb is to demonstrate women power and show young women in the country and all over the world that nothing is unachievable.

The second group of the expedition leaves on Sunday on their journey to summit Africa’s highest peak.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation – in partnership with the Imbumba Foundation – will be sending off the second group at the O.R. Tambo International Airport to summit Mount Kilimanjaro.

One of the main goals is to raise funds to buy sanitary towels for young girls.

The first group of climbers left for Tanzania in July.

This year’s climbers include former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, Nelson Mandela Foundation CEO Sello Hatang, and the SABC’s Pearl Shongwe.

The expedition aims to raise enough funds to ensure that 1-million girl children will not miss a day of school and give much-needed accessibility to sanitary towels.

Mari Van Wyk is one of the climbers: “Education is the one thing that you cannot take away from a person; these girls can lose up to 50 days per year not going to school. We should give them an equal chance with their boy counterparts to complete their education. Summiting on Women’s Day with a large contingent of women climbers is to drive that message back home that we as women can make a difference and we should stand up for our girls.”

Meanwhile, The Nelson Mandela Foundation says this year’s Trek4Mandela expedition is to empower women who have fallen victim to gender-based violence.

In its 8th year, the Trek4Mandela expeditions bring together individuals from corporate and public backgrounds that summit Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for the Imbumba Foundation’s Caring4Girls programme.

“For us as the Nelson Mandela Foundation we, want to thank all the climbers who put their hands up. It’s 24 climbers who will be going up led by Sibusiso Vilane and we are hoping we will continue to make a difference in the lives of young girls. But as you know we summit on women’s Day and for this year we saying to all the women who continue to suffer at the hands of many men, we are with you.”