Well it certainly is a first that I am writing about a place I am travelling to, as opposed to where I have been. On the 1st of September I will be making my first ever visit to Africa! Quite worrying after just seeing Blood Diamond, and what an excellent film.

I am off with a few friends, well 7 in fact to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. We will be attempting the climb by the Machame route which takes a day longer, but in theory this gives us an extra day to help acclimatise to extreme altitude. (I really don’t fancy the side effects!)

The reason we are doing this is for the Amani children’s home which is situated in Moshi at the foot of the mountain. The home started in 2002 and now looks after around 110 children, both boys and girls between the ages of 3 and 16. As well as providing a home for the children, the Amani children’s home financially support 64 children who used to be homeless whose Amani’s social workers were able to reunify with relatives. A home is great but if they can reunite the children that’s even better.

I am hoping to raise £2000 personally for the climb, with the eight of us hoping to raise at least £10,000 which we will be able to use to build the children a play ground, yes very expencice all the equipment and materials need to be imported from South Africa.

The trip is entirely self funded so all money raised will go directly to the home, if you would like to sponosre me you can sponsor me online here. Perhaps I could give you a free link for a reasonable donation?

If you are interested why not find out more information on our Kilimanjaro climb.