Hi Everyone,

This October I'm joining 9 other women to trek to Everest Base Camp in Nepal (5,364 meters) in aid of  Women for Women International  which helps women survivors of war to rebuild their lives, become self-sufficient and support their families.

To get right to the important part of this trek - the aim for each of us to raise £5,000 for the charity.  All the team members are financing their own expedition costs, so any money raised goes directly to the charity.  Even a small sum makes a difference in these women's lives.  Here are some examples of amounts and what they can do:

£15  Could pay for a Sewing kit (needles, thread, yarn, tape measure).  Women in Afghanistan, Kosovo and the Democratic Republic of Congo are using simple sewing tools to provide an income for themselves and their families.

£65  Could purchase a bicycle.  In countries like Rwanda and Sudan, the women often use bicycles as their means of transportation from the farm to the market.  The bicycle helps a woman to transport her goods more easily and quickly to market.

£100 Could provide one woman in Nigeria to become a cooperative leader in poultry farming, enabling her to run her own business and train other women in her community.

£125 Could pay for a loom.  In countries like Kosovo, young women learn how to weave.  The women that Women for Women International  support use these looms to produce beautiful items for sale and create businesses that will support their families.

£160  Could pay for a gem-cutting kit.  In Afghanistan, for example, using the natural resources of their country, women learn the skill of cutting semi-precious stones for jewellery sales.  With these skills and the income they earn, these women can feed their families and educate their children.

And £5,000 could provide training for 50 women in Nigeria to become cooperative leaders in poultry farming, allowing them to run their own businesses and train other women in their communities.

I am super excited and am counting down the days!

Thank you so much for your support!

Maysoune xx