On the 12th of October I will join a small team of friends to fly to Tanzania to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. The ascent to the famous snow capped summit will begin on the 14th and will take six days. If I make it, I will be standing at 19,340 feet above sea level very early on the morning of the 20th. I will be at the highest point in Africa and from there the only way is down…for two days!
The trip provides a fantastic fundraising opportunity that I can’t let pass. I’m aiming to raise money for the Camps International Trust; a charity that helps underprivileged communities in developing countries and runs a multitude of aid projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The projects focus on sustainable development and conservation. I have visited some of the projects and have seen the benefit they bring to the local communities.
Sustainable Social Development
The Trust works exclusively in rural areas where poverty levels are high and there is virtually no form of income beyond small-scale farming. The aim is to develop and implement strategies to alleviate poverty by tackling the root causes and providing the support and direction necessary for successful capacity building. This includes generating income, providing equitable access to resources and opportunities and protecting human rights, thereby empowering each community.
This is achieved by:
· - Creating employment and providing skills training
· - Improving access to education
· - Developing sanitation and healthcare
· - Creating food security
· - Supporting sustainable livelihoods
- Preserving cultural heritage
Biodiversity Conservation
The conservation projects are targeted to include four of the world’s 34 biodiversity hotspots that hold especially high numbers of endemic species in a very small area, yet are facing extreme threats. The projects aim to increase the value of wildlife and habitats by working with communities to develop economic alternatives to over-exploitation of natural resources. This results in a reduction in conflict between people and wildlife, as well as encouraging environmental stewardship from the local communities.
This is achieved by:
· - Protecting fragile habitats
· - Conserving natural resources
· - Developing ecotourism initiatives
· - Mitigating human-wildlife conflict
· - Improving animal welfare
More information about the trust and details of all of their projects can be found here: http://www.campsinternational.com/foundation.
If you like what the Trust is doing and would like to help then a small financial gift will go a long way. Thanks very much for your support!
