Johannesburg - This year, the Imbumba Foundation Trust has taken things up a notch, bringing subsections of the foundation together in celebration of seven women who will summit Mount Kilimanjaro on August 9 to coincide with South Africa’s Women’s Day.
This highly anticipated climb will follow the theme “Super Women Kilimanjaro Trek4Mandela Expedition”, raising funds for sanitary towels to keep young girls in school.
The Imbumba Foundation continues to be a beacon of hope by providing some relief to schoolgirls from destitute backgrounds.
In the past few years, the foundation has offered girls the opportunity to continue their education without the restraint of hygiene risks, discomfort, embarrassment, or loss of dignity.
“The Star” spoke to South32 employee Fanele Sinqobile Mkhize ahead of the highly anticipated expedition.
“This climb is very important to me because I was also a little girl who lost her mother and needed the support. So caring for girls is an important programme for me. It’s an important programme to support. When I heard about this opportunity and the words ‘Women’s Day’, they were all words that inspired me. And that is why I wanted to undertake this. I also appreciate the opportunity to stretch myself because every year I venture into something that will stretch me beyond who I am right now.”
Elsa Tivane Noordally, who will also summit the mountain, spoke about the importance of the expedition, highlighting that she is taking the brave journey for young girls who need all the support they could get to attend school every day.
"I will summit Mount Kilimanjaro on August 9 to ensure that those girls do not miss school a single day due to their menstrual cycle,“ said Noordally.
South32 chief operating officer Noel Pillay said: “At South32, we are proud to support social partnerships that help deliver positive benefits to our communities. Being part of the Trek4Mandela and Caring4Girls initiatives speaks to our core values as an organisation. We wish our ‘super women’ the best of luck as they undertake this journey of a lifetime and for making sure that Madiba’s life and legacy live on.”
The founder and CEO of the Imbumba Foundation, Richard Mabaso, said: “The partnership that we have with South32 is the epitome of corporate citizenship. Furthermore, through the partnership, we can collaborate to ensure sustainable solutions within the underprivileged community.”
The Star