Our Summit for School for Life adventure

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I’m sitting on the plane from Mount Kilimanjaro to Uganda trying to put together my thoughts with tears streaming down my face... It’s a mixed feeling of elation, exhaustion, relief, sadness to leave and heartfelt contentment. It’s hard to put into words the experience we’ve just had… The true grit, determination, but above all comradery and kindness I saw this week was unforgettable. I have never seen such deep human connection, such an even playing field between people of different ages and backgrounds, and such incredible kindness from our Tanzanian friends who laid everything on the line to get us up the mountain.

Half of us got off to a bumpy start with missed connections from Abu Dhabi to Kilimanjaro pushing the start day one later than we had originally planned. I was concerned about the group not having time to acclimatize and the need to hit the ground running. I was determined to ensure that morale stayed high. Though, from the moment I met the group of 16, I knew we had a competent, strong and mentally fit team. We were going to do just fine.

We met our Tanzanian Head Guide Genes (affectionately renamed ‘Big G’) and his team of Assistant Guides, had a quick briefing, dinner and an early night, preparing ourselves for game time. I could feel the nerves and anticipation around the table.

We kicked off on Tuesday morning with a 2-hour bus drive to the gate, lunch and a short hike to the first camp. The team were surprised to learn that we would have 60 Tanzanian guides, porters, cooks, a doctor, camp masters and ‘toilet carriers’ (yes we had toilet tents!) to ensure we were safe and supported during the week. Spirits were high, there was loads of laughter and we gelled immediately.

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We woke early each morning and watched the sunrise, a perfect start to the day and it felt really good to be completely disconnected from technology and to have real and honest conversations with so many people from different backgrounds, and to hear what this trip meant to them. Some people were there to have a bonding father/son experience, others to challenge themselves and get outside their comfort zones, but underneath everyone shared a united commitment to School for Life. I was inspired by everyone’s stories and their genuine interest in one another and our work in Uganda.

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Wednesday through to Friday were big trekking days with beautiful changing landscapes and scenery. We stayed at different campsites each evening, slowly getting higher and acclimatising to the altitude. As we trekked we got to know the amazing Tanzanian team who were leading us. Each of the guides had their own stories of overcoming obstacles and challenges and the passion they have for their jobs, their livelihoods, is overwhelming. It was breathtaking at some campsites when the team would come together to sing and dance for us, despite having just carried over 20kgs of gear on their heads for more than 15km in altitude. Their rhythm was awesome and their energy infectious, pulling us all in to dance and putting us to shame with their natural talent.

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On Friday we crossed the saddle, an exposed barren expanse of landscape and headed directly to the base camp of Kili. It started getting colder and windier and we were all getting a bit more nervous about taking on the summit as the giant mountain lay directly in front of us. We reached base camp, had dinner and an early night. I don’t think many of us got a full night’s sleep!

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On Saturday morning we got up at 2:45am. It was absolutely freezing, our heads were throbbing but we were ready to take on the summit. The first couple of hours were dark and we trekked slowly and surely with our head torches on until the sun rose, around 6am. It was a spectacular sight, being above the clouds and on top of the world.

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After a gruelling 8 hours of trekking, seemingly never-ending zig zags up the slope, we made it to Gilman’s Point at 5685m - the top of the mountain. Everyone was ecstatic to have made it there. We knew that we had a further 2 hours to get to the summit (and 200 m incline) but after a short rest we were ready to power on.

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After trekking it last year, I saw a massive difference up there – a fresh dump of snow made for a completely different experience. The glaciers were spectacular. It truly felt like we were on top of the world.

We made it to summit at 2:25pm on Saturday, having walked for 11 hours. It was exhilarating and emotional, with everyone hugging and full of pride and relief.  

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Thank you to all those who donated towards this extraordinary endeavour. I can promise you that every member of our team did you proud and pushed through mental and physical limits, beyond what they ever knew they were capable of. Together, the team fundraised over $116,000 for School for Life. We could not be more grateful for such incredible commitment to the work School for Life is doing in Uganda.

To Team Kili, thanks for the memories, the laughter, the strength, courage and resilience, and for believing in one another and yourselves to make this one of the most special trips of my lifetime.

Annabelle xx

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Success Stories
Goretti

Sweet and shy Goretti lives with her aunt, uncle and cousins in a small house in the local village. When Goretti was younger, she moved in with her aunt and uncle because her parents could no longer look after her. She was one of our first students at Katuuso Primary, starting in 2011 when she was just 4 years old. Now, Goretti is in Senior One at Mbazzi High School, and is relishing the honour of being a high school student in her community - something that is taken for granted in Australia, but in Uganda, represents freedom and opportunity. Goretti also loves attending School for Life because she hopes to one day become a pilot in Uganda - a dream which she knows can only be reached with the help of a good education.

Violah

Violah has been at School for Life since since she was six years old. Sadly, Violah has experienced hardship no child should ever deal with. Her Dad passed away three years ago, leaving her Mum without the financial means to support her family - so she left Violah and her siblings with their elderly grandmother. Every day, Violah has to wake up at 5am to fetch water, cook meals and make sure that her younger sisters are properly looked after. Then she walks half an hour to get to school. Despite this adversity, Violah has flourished at school and has made many friends. She loves that School for Life is "helping me to build a future". After finishing school, Violah hopes to become a teacher to help other children.

Umar

Umar is one of our best performing students at Mbazzi Riverside High School - but life has not always been easy for Umar. His father abandoned the family in 2015, leaving his mother to struggle to support her five children on her own. School for Life has provided Umar with opportunities that may never else have eventuated for him. Umar begun his journey with School for Life at Katuuso Primary School, where his academic ability was quickly revealed. Now, he is a thriving member of our Senior 1 class and a formidable wing on the football team. With a love for mathematics, Umar is set on studying electronic engineering after finishing his senior studies - a goal which he is the first to admit is now within reach thanks to the skills and resources provided to him by School for Life.

Rose Nambooze

Rose is a 32‐year‐old single mother of one. She started working with SFL in 2013, after taking part in our tailoring training program. Prior to working with us, she was unemployed and living in her father's home helping to care for her father, who had cataracts, and his farm.
Thanks to her full time employment, Rose was able to save enough money to pay for an eye operation and restore her father's sight, allowing him to return to work as a mechanic. Now, Rose has moved into her own home and no longer relies on her father financially. 

Joseph

Joseph is one of our Special Needs teachers at Katuuso. After surviving a severe case of malaria at age four, he was left permanently deaf. He was raised by his single mother and attended a nursery school for the handicapped and later transferred to a school for the Deaf in Kampala. He eventually mastered sign language and pursued a university degree in education. Joseph decided to become a teacher so that he could give the gift of education to others who are hearing impaired.

Teddy Namatovu

Teddy is a participant in the Kumi Tailoring Program and four of her five children attend Katuuso Primary School. She and her husband farm two acres of land, which supplies fluctuating revenue. Participation in the Kumi Tailoring Project has secured income to reliably pay for school fees, nutritious meals and renovations to the family home. Teddy has gained a great deal of self-esteem from her ability to support her family and she takes pride in independently financing the education of all five children. Teddy has also been working on her numeracy and administration skills. She was appointed Treasurer of the tailoring group and will be responsible for keeping records of their savings.

Flaviah Nassaazi

Flaviah Nassaazi started working at Katuuso Primary and Vocational School in 2011. Prior to cooking at the school, she and her husband were subsistence farmers. They worked tirelessly for small yields and minimal income to support their family. Flaviah's cooking job not only enables her to pay school fees for her children, but she has also invested in a local barbershop business. She is now passing her cooking skills onto her eldest son Frank, who has also joined the school's cooking staff. Flaviah and her husband attend the adult literacy classes offered weekly at the school. Her English and reading have improved immensely, as well as her confidence.

Rachel

In 2010, Rachel began as a cleaner at Katuuso Primary and Vocational School. She was working to save money to study to be a teacher at University. Thanks to Barrie and Simone Goldsmith, her dream of studying came true and she is now fully qualified.