Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to Empower Youth
Young people are the future and are fundamental to providing better societies.
The Kilimanjaro Initiative (KI) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) formed to address the problems of youth in the urban areas of East Africa. It aims to do so by providing young people with opportunities that will enable them to take on a constructive role in their communities.
The initiative, as its name indicates, is inspired by Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free standing mountain in the world. Every year, the KI organizes an ascent of the giant sleeping volcano, bringing together youths and community stakeholders from around the world. The climbs are a way of raising awareness of some of the problems confronted by young people and to collect funds for community-based projects aimed at youth empowerment.
Climb 2009
In February 2009, a KI team of 35 climbers, 15 guides and 50 porters will again attempt to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, this time under the United Nations banner of ‘UNite to Combat CLIMATE CHANGE’. KI recognizes that global warming can severely affect the social fabrics and infrastructures of our communities, through extreme weather conditions and related migration flows.
"This year’s climb will highlight – with the melting ice of Mount Kilimanjaro as a backdrop – how global warming has a direct impact on the living conditions of individuals and communities throughout the world" Mr. Wilfred Lemke, Special Advisor to the United Nations Secretary General on Sport for Development and Peace. Read Mr. Lemke's complete statement (pdf).