Climbing Mt Kilimanjaro for Trek4Mandela

The Trek4Mandela expedition brings together inspired individuals from corporate and public backgrounds to raise funds and create awareness for the Caring4Girls initiative.

The annual expedition to summit Africa’s highest peak is now in its 8^th year, and it is facilitated by the Imbumba Foundation in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the support of various corporate partners. This year’s expeditions form part of the Foundation’s centenary goals.

In honour of Nelson Mandela’s centenary year, the 2018 expedition successfully summited Mt Kilimanjaro twice – the first on Mandela Day, 18 July and the second on the National Women’s Day, 9 August in honour of Mama Albertina Sisulu.

In 2019, Trek4Mandela will again host two expeditions to Mt Kilimanjaro. The first group intends to summit on Mandela Day, 18 July and on Women’s Day, 9 August where the climb will be led by Professor Thuli Madonsela.

“Our Caring4Girls programme is not simply just a sanitary towel distribution plan” says Richard Mabaso, Founder and CEO of the Imbumba Foundation and Trek4Mandela initiative. “We spend significant time in facilitating educational programmes centered on building the girls self-esteem and confidence. We are very excited about the expansion of the Trek4Mandela expeditions and the opportunity to give our girl child beneficiaries the opportunity to partake in the Trek100 leadership challenge expeditions. We believe the experience and exposure will engage and inspire the youth of South Africa to dream and think beyond borders. Our aim is to help grow future community leaders, who will be understand and apply the concept of Think Global – Act Local.” Learn more about the Trek100 initiative here.

The aim of the two Trek4Mandela expeditions happening this year is to raise enough funds to ensure that 1million girl children don’t miss a day of school through the Caring4Girls initiative. The programme provides much-needed accessibility to hygiene and puberty education.

The LexisNexis Group, a corporation providing computer-assisted legal research as well as business research and risk management services, announced at a recent fundraising event in Houghton, Johannesburg on 28 March that they would be supporting the upcoming Madonsela expedition as the headline sponsor. The Madonsela expedition will support the further development and implementation of the Trek100 seven continent expeditions as well as the Caring4Girls programme.

The 2019 Mandela Day expedition will see other corporate executives and actor Clement Maosa of the well-known SABC drama, Skeem Saam who will aim to summit on 18 July.

Old Mutual Insure together with Marsh South Africa, are a proud supporter of Trek4Mandela. Magcino Gule, Senior Manager of Travelsure shared, “We would like to congratulate the climbers who are braving the elements on Mt Kilimanjaro in support of the Imbumba Foundation. As their trusted corporate travel insurance provider, it is our honour to be there before, during and after this incredible event.”

To view the climber profiles click here. To support the climbers fundraising initiative you can send an SMS with the name “GIRLCHILD” to 42513 to make a pledge of R30 or visit the campaign on GivenGain.

For Individuals or companies interested in joining the Trek4Mandela expeditions, you can enquire via the Foundations website, here. If you need further information please contact richard@imbumbafoundation.org or nkateko@imbumbafoundation.org.