18 training for annual Kilimanjaro Challenge

The tenth edition of the Mount Kilimanjaro Challenge was launched today, with 18 people currently training to climb the Tanzania mountain next January.

In the past ten years, over €600,000 in funds have been collected for seven projects in Kenya and Ethiopia, all being run by Moviment Gesu fil-Proxxmu.

The founder of Kilimanjaro Challenge Malta, Keith Marshall, told a press conference that all the projects completed so far have proven successful.

This year, funds will go towards the construction of a kindergarten in Jemu, a remote area in Ethiopia, which is home to about 800 families who live in extreme poverty, with high levels of malnutrition and health diseases.

The kindergarten school – the first such building in the area –is expected to host 150 children and will offer them a daily meal. Roads leading to the school have been completed and the construction of the building is now away.

It is estimated to cost around €55,000 to build – with €30,000 going to construction costs, €3,000 on the installation of benches, €6,000 on toilets, €6,000 on a kitchen, €6,000 on a store, €1,000 on utensils and €3,000 on transport.

It will be named after Chris Criminale – a member of the Kilimanjaro Challenge 8, who died last year.

Marshall added that the group also hopes to collect enough funds – around €10,000 – to construct a flour mill close to the school.

“This will encourage girls to attend the school and go to the flour mill, allowing the women to stay working the land, thus generating progress,” he said.

Group Leader Mark Lupi explained that the team has been meeting up since January and will complete one year of intense training in preparation for the mountain – the highest free-standing in the world, standing at almost 6,000m.

They will be departing to Africa on 5 January 2017, spending 8 days on the mountain.  They will later travel to Ethiopia to inaugurate the project.

Upcoming fundraising events include a squash tournament, kayaking event, BBQ and Band Night. More events and information can be found on our official Facebook page.