Climbing Kili for a Cause!
We're hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro to Build a School at the Base of the Mountain in Tanzania
Our Story
We are setting out on a remarkable adventure to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa at 19,340 feet, with a mission to raise $135,000 for the Mungere School in Tanzania!
This journey isn't about boosting our egos or even summiting a peak.
It's about making a meaningful difference for an incredible school at the mountain's base—the Mungere School, run by the American 501(c)(3) non-profit Red Sweater Project.
Why are we doing this? After years of serving on non-profit boards, we've grown frustrated with the limitations of "armchair" philanthropy, which, despite its benefits, often involves too much red tape and bureaucracy and is too far removed from the actual impact.
We saw this climb as an opportunity to make a direct, tangible impact. Inspired by Brent's 2023 trip to Zambia, where he blended adventure with social impact by helping build a school in Mukuni Village outside of Victoria Falls while white-water rafting the Zambezi River, we decided to create a similar experience with our Kilimanjaro hike.
Together, we're pushing our limits physically, mentally, and socially to achieve something truly significant.
Our trek will…
…take us along the Lemosho Route over 8 days, with the final summit push featuring a challenging 4,000-foot ascent to 19k feet starting at midnight and then a 10,000-foot descent down the mountain the same day. After a rest day in Moshi, we'll venture off to the Mto Wa Mbu region and dedicate 3 days at the Mungere School, rolling up our sleeves personally to help construct the infrastructure we’re raising funds for. (Feel free to join us for the building if you want!)
This transformative journey supports the Mungere School, which has been changing the lives of local young men and women (51% female enrollment) for the past 12 years, nurturing the leaders of tomorrow. We're excited to aid in the rebuilding, refurbishing, and rehabilitation of this inspiring campus that is so worthy of our support.
Join us in this incredible mission! Together, we can create a lasting impact.
“Did you know that an educated woman in her community is 9x's more likely to reinvest in her community?? We just love this stat and how committed Red Sweater Project is to female education in East Africa.”
Here’s the backstory of Red Sweater Project:
In 2005, Ashley Holmer, an Oregon native, embarked on a transformative journey to teach soccer in rural Tanzania, immersing herself in the Maasai community's culture and learning the language. While there, she witnessed the stark educational disparities, particularly for girls facing financial hurdles as was the case with many families. Ashley recognized the urgent need for change and took action. Inspired by her experiences and understanding of the profound impact that education can have specially for girls aged 11 to 17, Ashley founded Red Sweater Project in 2011 as a US based, Tanzania operated 501c3 non-profit organization with the focus of creating affordable, accessible, and innovative opportunities for secondary education where it did not exist.
In 2012, the organization proudly launched Mungere School, annually welcoming new students and fostering sustainable, quality education for East African children. With an unwavering commitment to empowering youth and reshaping futures, Red Sweater Project is just beginning its transformative journey -- and with your help can significantly accelerate it's efforts!
What sets Red Sweater Project apart?
Direct partnership with community members and local leaders
Equality in our classrooms, with 51% female enrollment
Access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene
Sustainably-designed infrastructure, including reliable solar power and composting toilets
STEM-based learning and digital inter/intranet systems
Campus organic garden and animal husbandry programs provide nutritious student meals and hands-on agri-pastoral coursework
Basic health services and health-based holistic education
In an annual admission process, over 200 applicants compete for just 40 available spots at Mungere, highlighting the significant demand for quality education against a backdrop of limited resources. The institution prioritizes sustainable growth and high educational standards, with plans to expand its campus to accommodate an increasing number of students.
The economic context in Tanzania, where the average family income is approximately $530 USD annually, contrasts sharply with the average high school tuition cost of $500 USD, making education financially inaccessible for many. Mungere School addresses this challenge by requiring families to contribute $15 USD per year towards their child's education, a nominal fee that ensures family engagement without covering the full cost of education.
The school promotes gender equality by providing equal opportunities for boys and girls in both academic and extracurricular activities. This approach aims to change community perceptions about gender roles and emphasize the importance of education, leadership, and community development for all students.
To address barriers to learning such as hunger and illness, Mungere School provides two balanced meals daily, safe drinking water, proper sanitation facilities, and basic healthcare to all students. This comprehensive support system is designed to ensure that students can focus on their studies without the distractions of unmet basic needs.
The Beyond Academy at Mungere School is dedicated to supporting graduates in achieving their individual career goals, offering guidance for a variety of professions. This program underscores the school's commitment to each student's success beyond the classroom.
In 2023, Mungere School celebrated a 100% pass rate among its graduates on national exams, significantly exceeding the national average pass rate of 27%. This accomplishment highlights the school's effectiveness in providing a superior education that prepares students for further educational and professional opportunities.
We’re Raising $135,000 to renovate, rebuild and revitalize the Mungere School with the following projects
BUILDING REFURBISHMENT
Wear and tear, weathering, and other environmental factors are taking a toll on our existing classroom buildings.
It is time to fortify our buildings against erosion (an inescapable issue in the region), upgrade fixtures, and give everything a fresh coat of paint so that our classrooms can continue to provide a welcoming and safe learning environment for our students for years to come.
PROJECT BUDGET: Classroom Building #1
Building Materials: $4,000
Transport: $225
Labor: $900
Total: $5,125
PROJECT BUDGET: Classroom Building #2
Building Materials: $4500
Transport: $75
Labor: $1000
Total: $5,575
TOTAL: $10,700
WATER TOWER
Adding an additional water tower on campus will allow us to expand and provide more necessary bathrooms, hand washing stations, clean drinking water, and expand the school farm.
The school farm provides fresh fruits and vegetables, houses the rabbit husbandry program and provides our students with sustainable and nutritious meals.
The farm also provides an outdoor learning lab where students get their hands dirty and put into practice the sustainable farming methods and training they receive in the classroom.
Access to water allows increased access to hygiene, hydration, and water for our rabbit barn and school garden.
PROJECT BUDGET
Tower Construction Materials: $3,050
Tank & Fittings: $2,850
Transport: $75
Miscellaneous: $1150
Labor: $750
TOTAL: $7,875
SCIENCE LABORATORIES
Our students enjoy a rigorous science curriculum including biology, chemistry, and physics. While the sciences tends to be some of our students’ favorite subjects, especially lab experiments and practicals, our current campus spaces are lacking in adequate space for equipment and materials as space in regular classrooms is limited and need specially designed infrastructure.
Designated lab spaces will give our students the best learning experience possible, including properly piped water and gas lines, inspiring the next generation of STEM learners and professionals.
PROJECT BUDGET: Chemistry/Biology Lab
Building Materials: $52,800
Fixtures & Fittings: $14,000
Transport: $750
Miscellaneous: $2,500
Labor: $8,000
TOTAL: $78,050
NEW TEXTBOOKS
Like schools around the world, textbooks in Tanzania receive updates, expansions, and corrections.
To meet National curriculum standards, we are required to update and replace our current library of student textbooks and teacher resource books.
Textbooks give students spread out over vast geographic areas the opportunity to access and learn the same essential information as their peers in a standardized manner.
Updated textbooks and materials are a critical tool in providing our students with a well rounded education while ensuring they are on a level playing field with their peers across the country.
PROJECT BUDGET
Student Texts: Agriculture, English, Kiswahili, History,
Geography, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Civics
Each subject: Levels 1-4, 35 sets each
TOTAL: $15,450
WASHROOM FACILITIES
To keep up with our growing student body and government regulations, we are in need of expanding our sanitation infrastructure on campus by constructing new compost and flushing toilet facilities.
This project will include a second bank of 5-stall composting toilets, flushing toilet facilities and add a privacy wall to the existing toilet facility.
BUDGET
COMPOSTING TOILETS (5 STALLS)
Construction Materials: $7,400
Transport: $65
Miscellaneous: $215
Labor: $1,700
TOTAL: $9,380
FLUSHING TOILETS (4 STALLS)
Construction Materials: $8,830
Transport: $75
Miscellaneous: $250
Labor: $2,000
TOTAL: $11,155
TOILET BANK PRIVACY WALL
Construction Materials: $1,030
Transport: $85
Miscellaneous: $100
Labor: $100
TOTAL: $1,315
PROJECT TOTAL: $21,850