In the last ten years, 82 Zimbabweans have climbed Kilimanjaro, compared to 16,800 climbers from the United States. It is important to note that 95% of these successful climbers are men, leaving only a handful of women to have completed the climb. This statistic gave Sandra Maidei Chirume and Patricia Mutyavaviri the challenge to go up the great mountain to its peak and be one of the very few women to have made it to the summit of the mountain. Mount Kilimanjaro has three peaks: the Gilimanjaro Point, the Stella Point, and the highest point, Uhuru Peak. The two ladies took the initiative to climb to the peak of the mountain and if they made it to the top, MWOS would take a child to school right up to her A level. Determined not to let one of their own down, the ladies took up the challenge to climb the great Kilimanjaro mountain.

The first stop on their climb was after reaching Gilman’s Point. “It was exhilarating watching the sun as it rose in a spectacular manner,” they said. This gave the ladies hope regardless of the altitude sickness, headaches and fatigue that start to cripple in at this point of the climb. They were determined, like soldiers on a mission, knowing that a girl child awaited them. The ladies went from Gilman’s Point to Stella Point and they confessed they wanted to give up, with most of the climbers giving up at this point and opting to return down to the ground without reaching the peak, UHURU. The ladies, however, persevered and made it to the top. They were exhausted and covered in frost bites, but they had made it. Not only had they achieved personal goals and made a statement that women can do what men can, but they had also ensured that a child’s education was guaranteed in the process.

MWOS fulfilled its end of the deal and we are currently sending the girl child to school until they reach their A level.