By REBECCA BILLS
SHE’S only 22, but determined to climb a mountain.
And not just any mountain, Africa’s Mount Kilimanjaro.
Kalorama’s Rhiannon Thomas is embarking on a self-funded journey alone to reach the Uhuru peak on the top of Mount Kilimanjaro – the highest free standing mountain in the world and the tallest in Africa.
In a quest taking her seven days, Ms Thomas is raising money for a local Tanzanian-run organisation called Food, Water, Shelter as motivation to reach the peak.
The endeavour will see her climb 5985 metres for the cause which assists highly vulnerable women including widows of HIV, victims of gender inequality and violence alongside children and orphans to develop the necessary skills.
These skills include knowledge to grow and cultivate their own food and sustainable water recourses, build their own sustainable houses and promote independent income away from the male breadwinner.
“Last year I was studying my honours in psychology, and I really just wanted to change it up a bit and do something very new and exciting as well as doing something for a cause,” she said.
“I wanted to do something that would challenge myself and as I want to become a psychologist in the future, it’s important to get some sort of experience similar to what other people have gone through.
“Although I will be climbing a literal mountain, by the time I get to the top it may be a very similar experience in metaphoric terms to what other people have had to go through.”
Ms Thomas said the reason for her supporting and raising funds for the organisation Food, Water, Shelter is that it was her main aim to help vulnerable people of Tanzania to get out of poverty without dependence on aid.
“This organisation also teaches young children basic health education and safety practices, with school classes offered to many kids in the poverty-stricken area of Arusha,” she said.
“I’d love to raise $5000 as it costs that much to teach women and children to build and create a sustainable house.
“What is also great is that I am the person handing the money to the organisation in the country, cutting out that middle man, and I get to actually see where the money is going first-hand.”
Leading up to the climb, Ms Thomas said she had completed the 1000 steps a few times a week, one full day hike and three smaller hikes each week.
“I am apprehensive about how it will all go, but at the same time I’m excited to see it for what it is on my own account,” she said.
Ms Thomas will be spending two months after the climb volunteering in Africa doing HIV counselling and various outreach projects with women and children.
Ms Thomas will be visiting Food, Water, Shelter in Tanzania after her climb on 12 July to deliver the funds raised over the duration of her climb.
Anyone who would like to sponsor her can visit www.gofundme.com/7vez2o.
