This year I am taking my sore knees and dodgy back up the highest mountain in Africa, the majestic Kilimanjaro!  I am taking part in Climb for Freedom 2022 to raise funds to help bring an end to modern slavery (aka human trafficking) and criminal violence around the world.  

Over 40 million children, women and men are held in slavery today - more than at any other time in history.  1 in 3 women globally experience gender based violence.  The covid-19 pandemic and war (Ukraine, Syria, Yemen, Ethiopia - to name a few) have only increased the vulnerability of people living in poverty to violence and exploitation.  Frequently that violence occurs at the hands of the police.  This is all illegal - but much of the time, laws are not enforced (for lots of reasons - e.g. lack of training/equipment, corruption, poor resource management).  Rampant violence undermines education, economic development, good governance - all of the things needed to end poverty.  

International Justice Mission (IJM) is a global organization working in low-to-middle income countries to protect vulnerable children, men and women from violence.   We are a team of lawyers, social workers, community activists and other professionals working in partnership with local authorities in 24 program offices in 14 countries to combat slavery, violence against women and children, and police abuse of power.  IJM works to rescue and restore victims, hold perpetrators accountable, bring criminals to justice and help strengthen public justice systems.   

I  have spent the last 9 years working for IJM and I LOVE it!  When the law is enforced, crime is deterred and people are protected from being victimised.  I have seen this work time and time again and it is why I am so passionate about what we do.  Over the next decade, we want to massively increase our impact - Climb for Freedom is just one of the ways that we will raise the funds needed to do that.  Want to help me?

Training for Kilimanjaro begins in May and I will be keeping this page updated.  We aim to summit on October 18, international anti-slavery day - to raise awareness of the work to be done and to remind ourselves that together, we can do this.  Please join me!