UPDATE 6/30/08: I reached the summit! Uhuru Peak at 19,341 feet! What a thrill. Photos and stories to come. Thanks again to everyone who participated in this journey on behalf of VSO!! ************************************************************* UPDATE 6/9/08: I leave for Tanzania in three days! I am busy getting last-minute gear and preparing to be away from work for 2.5 weeks. If you would like to see where I will be day-by-day on the trek, check out: http://www.vso.org.uk/accentureglobalkilimanjaro/2008/itinerary.htm ************************************************************* UPDATE 3/18/08: Thanks to all of you who helped exceed the high target I set for this fundraising initiative! I am so warmed by your support for VSO and kind words for me. For those of you who have not had the opportunity to participate, I am still accepting donations for Volunteer Service Overseas! Every dollar counts! Please read on to learn about VSO and my trip... ************************************************************** Please join me in donating to projects that directly impact our neediest brothers and sisters in Africa. In June 2008, I will be summiting Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa, to raise funds and awareness for some of East Africa's most pressing issues: HIV/AIDS, education, and economic opportunities through the work of Volunteer Service Overseas (VSO). I am making a significant financial investment in this trip and in this charity because I have experienced first hand what can be accomplished when a skilled professional is placed in a development context. All of the funds I raise go directly to the commendable humanitarian work of VSO (not the cost of my trip). Thank you so much for visiting my fundraising page and considering a donation to VSO. (Please note: VSO accepts donations in British Pounds. The exchange rate is approximately $1.98 USD = 1 GBP Currency Converter). Please read on if you'd like more details about my trip! THE CAUSE: Volunteer Services Overseas (VSO), East Africa
As many of you know, I recently spent three months living and working in an impoverished community in rural South Africa with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). I was placed within the Economic Development department of the local Government to build the capacity of my colleagues to deliver projects that help improve the economic situation of the local people. The desperate conditions I saw first-hand in Africa inspired me to continue to seek out ways to help this part of the world. The Accenture program that sent me to Africa was inspired by and modeled after VSO. VSO is an award-winning charitable organization placing skilled volunteers in local projects where their expertise is needed to address the root causes of poverty. Your fundraising dollars will go directly to VSO's work in East Africa which focuses on: (1) improving education (quality, access, and relevance), (2) improving access to HIV and AIDS services, and (3) strengthening the ability of disadvantaged people to make a viable living. While I am in Tanzania, I will have the opportunity to visit a VSO project that supports small community-based organizations of HIV positive people. I hope that, upon my return, you will feel as connected to the cause as I do when you see photos and hear stories of the field work of VSO. THE TREK: Summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (19,341 ft)
I will be hiking Mount Kilimanjaro with 30 of my Accenture colleagues from around the world who have made the same commitment to VSO. Due to Kili's terrain and location near the equator, it is considered a non-technical climb; however, with a summit of 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) you can bet it will be a challenge! The trek is five days up and two days down, allowing sufficient time for acclimitization. We will be assisted along the way by guides, medics, and porters who will help us to realize this significant personal accomplishment. Leading up to the trip, I will be training through basic cardio exercise and lots of weekend hiking trips (I'll need trekking buddies and trail friendly canines!). Thanks for your interest and please check back in as I update this page with new information! Sincerely, Colleen Bramhall
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