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A group of big-hearted men and women are set to trek to the highest mountain in Africa in June for a great cause, to raise awareness and funding for the Women’s Care Crisis International (WCCI) organisation in Bahrain.
The WCCI, the first and only full-scale joint Arabic language and English language rape and violence crisis response programme in the region, has teamed up with The Journey Adventures travel company to organise a 10-day trip to Mount Kilimanjaro with the aim of highlighting the work of the organisation, as well as raising funds for its women’s empowerment programmes.
Mary-Justine Todd, WCCI’s founder and executive director, who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 2013 when she was living in Tanzania, said: “The Kilimanjaro Trip is a 10-day trek to Tanzania including a seven-day climb through the beautiful and mysterious Machame route that winds from Arusha through five different climate zones on your way to reach the snow-peaked Glacier summit.
“It is a non-technical climb and the only thing necessary is dedication, heart and a bit of walking training. I climbed ‘Kili’ in 2013 when I was previously living and working in Tanzania. Knowing how magical the mountain is, how it can help one to stay focused on the positive side of life and give people a sense of confidence in achieving their goals is why I knew that this would be an amazing activity for WCCI supporters.
“The goal of the climb is to bring the community together to raise awareness and funding for WCCI. Each climber has committed to sponsoring WCCI activities to the amount of at least BD500. All of this money will then go towards supporting female victims of abuse.
“In 2018, WCCI supported women in more than 550 cases of abuse in Bahrain. All WCCI services for victims of abuse are 100 per cent free of charge, confidential and open to all women in Bahrain without any restrictions.”
Mount Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano with its summit about 4,900 metres from its base, and 5,895 metres above sea level. The mountain is part of the Kilimanjaro National Park and is a major climbing destination used for various fund-raising events such as sportswear designer Hala Zubari who conquered the peak in October of last year in a bid to raise funds and awareness for the Bahrain Rescues animal welfare group. Soccer star Deena Rahman also journeyed up the mountain before taking part in a full 11-a-side, 90-minute football match in support of women in sport.
Ten people have already registered and signed up for the climb and there are only a few spots left to join the noble journey from June 6 to June 15. The hike will start from Arusha and the cost of the trip will be approximately BD1,000, plus airfare, with a commitment to also raise a minimum of BD500 for women’s support programmes in Bahrain.
Indian Ladies Association member (ILA), Nivedita Dutta, is thrilled to be making the trek as part of a 15-strong group. She said: “In November last year, I did the Annapurna Base Camp trek in Nepal. I was planning to participate in the Everest Base Camp climb this year when I came across the Kilimanjaro trek on my friend’s Facebook timeline.
“I immediately registered for it. I know it would be a tough one but what inspired me to do it was the WCCI. My earlier treks, which also included the Dalai Lama climb in the Himalayas and the Jabel Shams, Grand Canyon of Oman, were never for charity, which is why I was so touched by the WCCI initiative.”
Nivedita, the former three-term ILA president and an Awali Ladies Hospitality Group executive committee member, has been training hard for the mountain by combining cardio, resistance training in the gym, walking and climbing whatever miniature hills can be found in Bahrain. The climbing group also trains together on Saturday.
“The group that I will be climbing with are all wonderful,” added Nivedita, an assistant administration officer at BAPCO. “I can’t wait to climb by their side. My husband, daughters and friends have been very supportive and encouraging. This climb is for such a great cause.”
WCCI’s programmes have increased exponentially since its inception in 2015 having supported approximately 65 women and in 2016 that number increased by more than 400 per cent.
Initially, WCCI operated only one helpline, in English and during Ramadan 2018, the organisation launched is second 24/7 helpline operating in Arabic. The official medical partner is American Mission Hospital and WCCI coordinates and support’s AMH’s patience in all four of its locations in Manama, Saar, Amwaj Islands and Riffa.
For further details, visit www.womenscci.org
