Dear friends, family and fellow WorldChangeAgents,

At the start of 2012 I jotted down a list of things I wanted to accomplish in the year.  I'm glad to say that I'm making good, steady progress with most of them.  One of the things I scribbled into the first page of my journal was this:  To make life an adventure.

So far this year, I've been to Hong Kong for the first time (while overcoming a severe case of Bronchitis - wasn't such a smart idea!), traveled to Bangkok, spent my summer in California and road-tripped my way down the Pacific Coast Highway.  Upon returning back to the regular routine of work, hosting my radio show and running 'Blessings in a Bag' and 'OKRA', I received an email to ask if I'd be interested to trek to Mount Everest's base camp. 

After much deliberation and thought, I've decided to jump right in and just do it!  I'm passionate about women's rights.  I'm in love with adventure and travel.  And the one reason why I've decided to join this wonderful group of women is that I will most certainly regret it for the rest of my life if I don't take this chance.  That is something I can't walk away from.

I have an opportunity to help women in war-torn countries.  I hope to inspire my friends and listeners through the choices I make and challenges I overcome.  I will have memories to last me a lifetime and leave no room for regret.

And though most of you (my friends) wouldn't even dream of doing this recreationally or even for a good cause, it would mean so much that you support this adventure of mine where 100% of what you donate will go directly towards 'Women for Women International'.

WHAT I ASK

In addition to putting in extra hours to prepare for this physically and mentally demanding trek, I am personally committed to raising USD $7,000 which is equivalent to SGD $10,000.  Every little bit counts and I hope you can chip in whatever amount you can.

Supporting me through this trek would mean so much to me as it will raise the vital funds needed for 'Women for Women International' to carry out their work. I ask you to join me in helping women around the world whose lives have been devastated by war, violence and rape. Let us together help by giving them the tools and resources necessary to move beyond crisis and poverty, towards re-building their confidence and self-sufficiency.

I am doing this trek to support mothers, daughters and sisters in distress, to help give them a chance to surmount and climb their own personal "Everest" against the injustices of this world.

 

ABOUT THE TREK

Our team of 10 women will be led by inspirational Everest summiteer, Valerie Boffy, and together we hope to raise a total of USD $70,000. 

The climb of 12-14 days will commence from the city of Lukla ( 2,860 meters - 9,383 ft.), through the Khumbu Valley, to culminate at Everest Base Camp (5,364 meters - 17,598ft) where the team, trekking under the banner of Women for Women, will plant prayer flags carrying messages of hope for peace in the world.

It will be an extraordinary journey about friendships, passions, freedom, and the commitment to others. In the spirit of humility and gratitude, we will be pushing our physical and mental limits on behalf of those women who are deprived of the most basic freedom: the right to live in peace and happiness with their loved ones, the right to education and self accomplishment, the right to live with respect and decency. We live daily with these vital basic rights, yet many can only dream of attaining them.

 

 
ABOUT WOMEN FOR WOMEN INTERNATIONAL

This non-profit humanitarian organization, which was founded in 1993 by Zainab Salbi, an Iraqi American who is herself a survivor of the Iran/Iraq War, also counts Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan as its first Global Ambassador.

Since its creation, Women for Women International has given hope to more than 290,000 women survivors of war and helped them move towards economic self-sufficiency with its year-long programs of direct aid, rights awareness, education, job skills training and small business development. Today, they operate offices in the following eight post-conflict countries: Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Sudan and are set to establish a presence in Asia. It is my sincere wish to remain involved with this beautiful charity beyond the trek.

 

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