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Climbers (the 4 girls):

- Rachana Amlani

- Nisha Irfan

- Jalpa Bhatt

- Sanchari Roy

Four of us decided to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in May this year. Initially as personal challenges. We all love a glass of wine and that extra slice of pizza, and snoozing the alarm instead of going to the gym. This was going to make us think again...

We then used our heads a bit more... we’re also four independent women who can’t believe that involuntary Female genital mutilation (FGM), also known as female genital cutting and female circumcision, still exists and is limiting the freedom, dignity, independence and future prospects for innocent little girls. Outrageous.

FGM still happens all over the world, believe it or not, but is more common in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. UNICEF estimated in 2017 that 200 million women living today in 30 countries—27 African countries, Indonesia, Iraqi Kurdistan and Yemen—have undergone the procedures. 

We did a bit of research and found FORWARD. The organisation works in the UK, Europe and Africa to safeguard girls at risk of FGM and support women affected through direct community engagement, advocacy and strategic partnerships. Their 2016/17 Annual report for a breakdown of costs and income can be downloaded on www.forward.uk.org.uk/about/annual-reports 

Being in Africa, helping girls in Africa will motivate us to make those 6 days of walking for around 8 hours a day more rewarding and satisfying. 

If you believe in equality, fairness and giving girls dignity and respect and freedom of choice (and would like to virtually cheer the four of us on for doing this challenge!) please donate whatever you can. If you can’t, just send us a message to say well done for trying.

Note: there’s around 60% success rate of reaching to the top of Kilimanjaro at 5,895m. We’ll try...!!

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