From the slopes of Kilimanjaro – Guest Blog by Fredrick Ouko
The long awaited climb came to pass and it was all systems go, lots of enthusiasm around the participating team and great support from friends and colleagues who sponsored my attempt to climb Mt.Kilimanjaro. In the run-up to the climb I was engaged in other processes that required the attention of Action Network for the Disabled as a disability organization in Kenya, we participated in the launch of the inaugural Prime Minister’s Roundtable Meeting with the Youth where ANDY was the sole representative on disability issues last week and ANDY was also representing Kenya as a country coordinator in the Tackling Poverty Together Project, in a regional meeting that brought together eight African countries to discuss the future of the project.
My preperation time was therefore limited but I managed to make it to the airport on Friday morning where we all joined up with the UK climbers headed for Kilimanjaro International Airport!! Our local tour guides (Ahsante Tours) were there to receive us in coordination with their UK counterparts (Action Challenge) all of whom are responsible for our climb logistics including assistive requirements for the 6 persons with disabilities in the group myself included. We all headed for Protea Hotel, a 45 minute drive from the airport. We indeed needed the rest at the hotel ready for the task ahead the following day!
We all assembled as a team getting to know each other over lunch which was followed by a briefing for the climb ahead and an equipment check. We also shared our individual reasons for participating in the climb.
The next morning 27th November2010, we all had our breakfast at 7am and were ready to leave for the Mountain at 7.30am.We had to sort our luggage so that we only carry what we need for the climb and the rest was stored for us in the post-event Hotel.
On arrival at the gate to Kilimanjaro, all of us alighted from the Ahsante’s tour van and our bags were assigned to potters and assistants while we cleared with the Tanzanian National Park officials to get a climbing permit. This took a bit of time but we eventually got it done, took a joint photo and set off with our guides.
As the climb began I noticed how much water was needed to avert dehydration as we struggled uphill – I was thankful that my guide was carrying my bag and water as we began the long task task with gusto! For a person with disability like myself and my colleagues in the team, this is an experience never to be erased in our memory in the entire life.
You can still contribute to enable me realise my goal at www.justgiving.com/fredrick-ouko
Kili Climbers On World Service
Last week the BBC World Service interviewed two of the disabled African campaigners who are climbing Kilimanjaro for AbleChildAfrica ahead of their challenge.
As The BBC website says: “Kenyan Frederick Ouko and his Ugandan team-mate, Florence Ndagire, haven’t let their disabilities get in the way of their success”
You can hear their interview right now by clicking on the following link and forward the podcast to the final third of the programme.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00bwg9d#synopsis
Able Team Starts Kilimanjaro Climb
The AbleChildAfrica team starts its ascent of Kilimanjaro today with a team of around 20 climbers – including six disabled climbers – heading bravely to the top.
They are lead by our patron Dame Evelyn Glennie who says she has I chosen the challenge of climbing Kilimanjaro because she wants to make a difference to our next generation.
“There are more than 52 million disabled children in Africa and too many are without hope. The only way we can make a sustainable difference is by including these children in Africa’s future development” she said.
Evelyn has now met team of disabled African climbers including the remarkable Florence Ndagire, who has overcome her visual impairment to become of the the tiny proportion of disable girls in Africa who get an education and find meaningful employment.
Florence said:
“We are all tired of being viewed as objects of sympathy alone, what we really want is the chance to help ourselves and make choices about out own lives. So many well-meaning projects still fall short of this by offering young disabled people limited options, but AbleChildAfrica is different”
We wish Florence, Evelyn and the very best of luck as they set off on their remarkable journey today. If you want to show your support please making donation online by clicking here to donate http://www.justgiving.com/Evelyn-Glennie
Kilimanjaro Climb Launch @ Tanzanian High Commission
The Kilimanjaro climb departure draws ever nearer and on Monday Dame Evelyn Glennie, our patron and one of the intrepid climbers joined us at the Tanzanian High Commission to start the countdown in ernest. Joining Evelyn were 5 of the 11 UK-based climbers who will be attempting to climb Kilimanjaro starting on Saturday of this week. The climb, which celebrates International Disability Day next Friday includes 6 disabled climbers and a number of representatives from our partner projects in East Africa. The group is climbing to raise both funds and awareness about the lives of disabled children and young people in Africa so many of whom struggle to access opportunities and live the life they truly desire. Climbing Kilimanjaro is a serious challenge and meant to demonstrate the ability and potential of young disabled people, as well as their right to make choices about their own lives. Watch this space for regular updates as the climb progresses.
AbleChildAfrica would like to thank the Tanzanian High Commission for providing us with such a wonderful venue for this event and Action Challenge for organising the climb itself.
Meet the climbers #1 Shikuku Obosi
Meet AbleChildAfrica Trustee Shikuku Obosi who is climbing Kilimanjaro with Dame Evelyn Glennie, later this month. Together they will help a team of disabled young Africans climb to the roof of Africa.
You can help him reach his £4,000 fundraising total by making a donation here online today
Shikuku was born in Kenya and contracted polio at the age of 5. He now lives in the Somerset in England and works in international development.
Shikuku says:
“It is a real honour to go on this great adventure with Dame Eveyln, she is a real inspiration and shows that people with disabilities can achieve extraordinary things in life.
“I share her belief that if we give disabled children in Africa the best possible start in life then they can also go on to do extraordinary things and make a contribution to their communities.
“I remember how, in my childhood in Africa, I would struggle to walk to school 3 km away without any walking aids – to attend grossly inaccessible classrooms – always arriving late to school. AbleChildAfrica is trying to make a difference in the lives of the many many children who are still struggling like I did.
“I want to climb Kilimanjaro to make a statement that we need to change our attitudes to disability and understand that disabled children deserve an equal chance just like everyone else. And I also want to raise lots of money for this great charity that is working hard to help give some of those children the best possible start in life.
“That’s why I am asking local people and local businesses to dig deep and please sponsor me, Dame Evelyn and the brave young disabled Africans who are making the journey with us.”
If you want to help Shikuku reach his fundraising target you can give now online.
Smiles Surgery Success
Regular visitors to this site might remember the Smiles party at Boujis nightclub which was held earlier in the year. The party was organised by a group of amazing women some of whom were able to travel to Uganda themselves and see at first hand how the funds have been used. It was a great success raising almost £10,000 and this week I have had the pleasure to watch the money being spent on something very very worthwhile. Over the past two weeks in Jinja in western Uganda the funds have enable 65 children to undergo corrective surgery which will dramatically improve their lives.
Justina pictured here was one of the children who underwent surgery last week. Her mother told me how her daughters legs had been so weak that she had not, at the age of 7, ever been able to walk but had instead been forced to move around on all fours. When Justina’s disabling illness first started her mother sort advice from a local clinic but her daughter was mis-diagnosied twice and so the illness continued to cripple her daugher.
Justina and her family found out about the free surgery we were offering because our local partners working closely with a Parents Support Group in JInja who spread the message far and wide using local radio and loud speakers. All in all 112 children were assessed for surgery and 65 surgeries were completed successfully. The remaining children for whom surgery was not suitable have been offered other rehabilitative solutions for the problems they face. Justina’s mother told me ‘I stopped digging and brought my daughter for assessment immediately- I am so happy that now she will be able to walk’. 
I heard so many amazing stories like this this week – which just goes to show that your money has made a real tangible difference in so many children’s lives. Thanks so much to everyone who contributed to the Smiles Fundraising – you have made a world of difference.
Anne’s story: In my dreams I dance
Anne’s inspiring story about growing up as a disabled child in Africa, Western Kenya to be precise – is the kind of story everyone needs to hear – It’s about succeeding against all the odds and never ever giving up – Anne is an inspiration to everyone who knows her and now those who haven’t had the amazing privilege to have met her can read her story too. As well as being a story of personal triumph over prejudice Anne’s story also gives the reader an idea about what it is like to be a young disabled girl and woman in Africa – the extent to which, the odds are stacked against you and the sad fact that so many people still think disabled people, women especially, don’t deserve a chance. Having worked with Anne myself on behalf of AbleChildAfrica I can confirm that there are many many disabled girls and women in Africa who have experiences like this and deserve to be treated better by those around them. I hope Anne’s amazing story will be an inspiration to many many others. You can get a order a copy of her book and find out more about our Champion here.
Dame Evelyn Glennie to climb Africa’s Highest Mountain to give young disabled people a chance
Evelyn Glennie, the first person in musical history to successfully create and sustain a full-time career as a solo percussionist, is taking on a new physical challenge to support the work of AbleChildAfrica.
Evelyn, who sees her own profound deafness as a key factor in her success will attempt the ascent of Kilimanjaro in November to raise money for us and help some of the continent’s 52 million disabled children to get a better start in life and achieve their own potential.
Most disabled children living in Africa today are still being denied an education; those that reach adulthood are unlikely to find decent employment and end up being driven further and further into poverty. Evelyn will climb with representatives of the charity and a group of young disabled people from the region and is seeking sponsors to help her maximize the funds raised from the climb.
Interested individuals, companies or organisation’s can help Evelyn reach her fundraising target of £25K by donating on line at http://www.justgiving.com/Evelyn-Glennie.
Evelyn is strongly motivated by her own story; here she tells us why she is so keen to participate in the climb: “I have chosen AbleChildAfrica and the challenge of climbing Kilimanjaro because I want to make a sustainable difference to our next generation. I have good reason to recognize the importance of education for ALL children; it empowered me to make my own unique journey in life. The children supported by this charity desperately need inclusion. A disabled child in Africa is too often without hope. Enabling these children means enrichment, quality of life, and reduced dependency for them, their families and communities. My challenge is to climb a mountain – your challenge is to help me make a difference”.
Mary Ann Mhina, Executive Director of AbleChildAfrica said: “Evelyn is an inspiration to us all. 52 million disabled young people in Africa are denied their rights on a daily basis. 95% do not complete their primary education and less than 2% are employed thereafter. Yet disabled young people have the right to be independent, included and make their own choices. To learn what they want to learn and choose a career and lifestyle for themselves. We are so please that Evelyn has chosen to join us on this journey, going the extraordinary mile to help demonstrate that disabled people can achieve what they want to achieve, given the opportunities”
New AbleChildAfrica Chair to take mission forward
We are pleased to announce that Steve Broach has taken over as our Chair of Trustees, succeeding Tim David. Steve was elected as Chair at last week’s trustee meetings. Steve will now lead AbleChild’s trustees in a review of the organisation’s strategy as well as driving forward our fundraising effort.
Steve says:
‘I am delighted to take over as chair of AbleChildAfrica at such a critical time in our development. We need to build our partnerships with organisations working with disabled children and their families across Africa to realise our vision of a world in which all young disabled people are able to achieve their full potential. To do this, we need AbleChildAfrica to be a strong and stable organisation, so my first focus will be on building our resources so we can provide even better support to our current and future partners. I am looking forward to working with our director Mary Ann and all our colleagues to make this happen’
Time to end the silence?
Last Wednesday the government of South Africa will hold the 1Goal summit calling on the world to make sure that an estimated 72 million children who don’t currently go to primary school get a chance to go to school, just like you and I did.
What’s worrying about 1Goal is that it is silent about disability. In Uganda, where we have worked for 25 years, 87% of all children go to primary school but this figure falls to 25% for disabled children. An estimated 8% of children in Uganda have a disability which means almost 1 million disabled children are missing out on this vital time in their lives.
In Tanzania where the headline data suggests that primary school attendance is up to 98% overall the government admits that less that 1% of disabled children attend – in that case it seems that disabled children, around 1.5m of them, are simply not being counted as children at all.
If you agree with me that it is not good enough that 1Goal is silent about disability and that it risks ‘forgetting about’ disabled children yet again please lend us your support now. Sign our online petition and make a donation if you are able to support the continuation of our valuable and important work in this area.
But cutting through this gloomy picture there are rays of light. On our website you can read more about Florence, a young woman from Uganda who succeeded in achieving her dreams and overcoming the barriers she experienced as a disabled woman born in a rural village.
Florence will be joining our Kilimanjaro climb on 25th November this year. If you are interested in getting involved by climbing or supporting the climb in some other way please email me now.
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