● What is the Kilimanjaro initiative?

Some UN staff members wanted to make a difference in people?s lives in the area where they are stationed (Nairobi and East Africa generally) and specifically help create a safer urban environment for the youth in East Africa. Working closely with UN-HABITAT, UNEP, Governments and some NGOs, they laid the foundation for a humanitarian effort aimed at raising awareness and funds to reduce and prevent crime in the region. The group launched the initiative in 2005, realized their goal of reaching the ?rooftop of Africa?, symbolic of overcoming life?s seemingly insurmountable challenges.

● Empowering youth

Ten young women and men from impoverished communities in Kenya and Tanzania, selected by UN-HABITAT, took part in the 2006 climb. The youth trained for the ascent via an Outward Bound Programme sponsored by the UN Credit Union and, in reaching the summit, proved to themselves and their peers that one can succeed at whatever one sets one?s sights on, whether scaling 5,895 metres/19,340 feet of mountain, completing school, working towards the betterment of communities and inspiring others.

● How did they attempt to achieve youth empowerment?

Well, mainly by making young people become agents of change through:

1. Self-sustaining jobs training programmes and small businesses;

2. Counselling services;

3. Crime-free zones and safe-guarding neighbourhoods;

4. Sport as a means for development and peace. Already existed a marvellous initiative in Kenya, that of the Mathare Valley Football Club, created by an ex-UN colleague, Bob Monroe: this club, built up with unemployed youths from one of the worst slums in existence, has been so successful with the team invited to play really good football in many parts of the world, through their newly discovered sense of belonging, discipline and hard work of its members, hitherto without hope and on the fringe of lawlessness.

● Raising funds for safer cities

The 2006 climb raised funds for community-based projects directed towards crime prevention and jumpstarting development, such as business creation programmes and the renovation of a local soccer stadium. Based on its positive, direct impact on the initiatives supported by UN, the Kilimanjaro Initiative has become an annual event. This year (Feb.2007 climb) young people from several nations besides Tanzania and Kenya (Norway, Switzerland, United States and others) participated. Anyone from here?

● Why that mountain?

Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free standing mountain in the world. Every year, the Kilimanjaro Initiative organizes an ascent of the giant sleeping volcano, bringing together youths and community stakeholders from around the world. The climbs are a way of raising awareness of some problems confronted by young people and collecting funds for community-based projects aimed at youth empowerment. An additional aspect this year is the use of the fact that the snows of Kili have largely disappeared, due to global warming, which in turn is due to ecologically disastrous human life-styles (burning within two centuries the accumulated carbon from oil, coal and gas, which have taken several million years to form, thereby releasing excess carbon dioxide that the natural cycles could not quickly recycle, nature having its time frames!). The striking images of Kili, once the pride of Africa (the mountain on the Equator with eternal snow on its top) now bare must have contributed to yestesday?s (9.3 2007) EU historic decision to all get together and reduce carbon emissions by 20% by 2020, fully as per the UN Kyoto protocol.

● What you can do locally

Climb the Pouce/Lion Mountain/Le chat et la souris/Montagne Blanche or even Colline Candos this week-end, with family or friends, weather permitting, and reflect on the theme ?together we can move mountains?, as a source of inspiration to your favourite social intiative, whatever that might be.

● Which social initiative?

Here?s an example: specially after the prime minister?s Independence Day message, work towards reducing the huge gap between such rhetoric and the real situation on the ground for those who, like in Mathare Valley in Kenya, are simply being excluded from development on unacceptable grounds. If you have the will and can raise enough sponsorship money to cover the cost, you may consider joining the next (2008) Kilimanjaro climb itself. Quite a few months physical fitness preparation may be necessary. Here?s one useful contact: Ms Zahra Hassan in Nairobi on [email protected].

Michael ATCHIA