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On January 10, 2009 a team of 14 women from around the world will confront three of Africa’s highest peaks, united in the quest to raise money and awareness for three key issues currently facing Africa: HIV/AIDS, education, and environment.
These women will climb Mount Kenya, Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro in only three weeks to support and encourage three grassroots organisations in Kenya and Tanzania: Support for International Change (SIC), The School of St. Jude, and the Laikipia Wildlife Forum. The funds raised by the 3 Peaks 3 Weeks 2009 Challenge will benefit the efforts of these organizations, whose projects directly impact the needs of local communities and whose work demonstrates the efficacy of small steps made by committed and passionate individuals.
The 3 Peaks 3 Weeks (3P3W) concept was developed by Chloe Chick – where in 2007 she mobilised 10 women to climb Africa’s 3 highest mountains in 3 weeks in order to raise money for 3 issues currently facing Africa – Environment, Health and Education. The 3P3W challenge raised over $350,000 and received widespread national and international attention culminating in Chloe being awarded Young Australian of the Year in the UK in January 2008.
A documentary film by Serac Adventure Films of the 2007 climb premiers at the Boulder Film Festival in Colorado in February 2008. Rush HD, an American cable television channel is scheduled to screen the film in the United States later this year. The Australian release of the film premiered at Hoyts Fox Studio’s on 14th March and coincided with the announcement of the second climbing team, including 5 Australian girls.
The 2009 team is continuing the commitment and dedication to the causes and are about to embark on what is sure to be an amazing experience where each of them will push harder and further than ever before.
The women of 3P3W hope that their endeavor will educate, inspire, and mobilise others by providing a concrete example of how everyday women can lead to real global change.
SIC Tanzania was founded in August 2002 with the goal of limiting the impact of HIV/AIDS in northern Tanzania. 20 million people living with HIV live in Sub-Saharan Africa with more than 77% of all women. Funds raised will be used to provide free HIV testing and counseling in rural villages, and to train and support Community Health Workers who provide basic care.
The School of St. Jude is a sponsorship-supported English Secondary School in Tanzania who strives to alleviate poverty and break the cycle of dependency on external aid by enabling Tanzanians to run successful schools. St. Jude’s represents a paradigm shift of the educational system in Tanzania as an exemplary, modern and self-sustainable institution. Today it provides educational opportunities and a brighter future for over 500 Tanzanian orphans and disadvantaged children. Funds raised will be used to build a secondary school which will facilitate the continued expansion of The School of St. Jude.
Laikipia Wildlife Forum, established in 1992, was created in response to an initiative by the Kenya Wildlife Service designed to engage landowners and land users in the conservation and management of wildlife in non-protected areas. LWF’s efforts now additionally include mitigating crises such as land degradation and deforestation and protecting resources such as river-flow. Funds raised will directly support community-based conservation projects that result in improved livelihoods, education, and ecosystem security.
The women of the 3P3W provide a concrete means to assist three organizations that challenge global poverty through specific, community-based, and sustainable endeavors. They climb under the belief that one small action can inspire a movement that will change the world.
Well done ladies, we are all right behind you!