Cape Town - Two South Africans will climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in a bid to raise awareness about the plight of underprivileged girls who often miss out on school during their menstrual cycle.
Vis and Mona Naidoo, from Joburg, are part of the Trek4Mandela expedition that will take a group of adventurers on an expedition to “inspire change”.
The group will traverse the 32 kilometre trail up the mountain on July 14.
It will take four days for the climbers to reach the summit, which will coincide with Mandela Day on July 18.
Trek4Mandela was established in 2012 when its founder, Richard Mabaso of the Imbumba Foundation, overheard a conversation between his mother and his niece about challenges young girls face during their menstruation.
The mountain’s peak is 5 895 metres above sea level and not for “sissies”, said Mona jokingly.
Mona, who works for the National Prosecuting Authority as a lawyer, said they aimed to assemble the largest group to take on the mountain.
The couple, who celebrated their 22nd anniversary on Saturday, said they hoped to raise enough funds to help 350 000 girls.
“Girls miss 50 days of school every year just because they don’t have sanitary protection and this impacts on their education. They are sitting at home feeling ashamed, feeling uncomfortable.
“The aim is to help girls get an education and dignity. To give girls a fighting chance at success because people forget about the sensitivity of women having to go through this natural experience and how it impacts on their lives, specifically in rural communities,” said Mona.
The couple teamed up with designer and Presidential Shirts company owner Desre Buirski, who is the headline sponsor for charity events held in Mandela’s honour.
Buirski designs unique silk “Mandela” shirts in a wide variety of prints and sizes.
Vis, Mona and Buirski are also hosting a “Madiba and Friends” inspired benefit dinner with dishes designed by Chef Michel Morand of Bistro Michel, and Xoli Ndoyiya, Mandela’s personal chef for more than 20 years.
Mona said they decided to brave the mountain to motivate disadvantaged children in rural areas to “overcome their challenges” and to “rise above their circumstance”.
“It’s not just about the physical strength. It’s about your mental and emotional strength, so it’s a spiritual journey for people as well.
“A lot of it is your personal development. Whatever challenges you think is in your space comes out and you are so profound at that time, that it makes you have to deal with it.
“You realise that this mountain is so gigantic and you are this little person – but you can do whatever you want to do,” she said.