Friday 31 December 2010

Another donation to Kilimanjaro charity climb received from Notburga Maskini

After donating Shs.100,000/- to the Chief Edward Wanzagi Girls' Seconday School, Notburga Maskini has donated another Shs.100,000/- to Bukoba Disabled Assistance Project (Budap).

She is the first donor to donate to Budap, and the first to donate to both beneficiaries of this year's Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb.
Notburga Maskini
Current donors to Chief Edward Wanzagi Girls' Secondary School (CEWGSS):
1. Tanzania Gatsby Trust - Shs.500,000/-
2. Dina Mrango - Shs.100,000/-
3. Notburga Maskini - Shs.100,000/-

Current donors to Budap:

1. Notburga Maskini - Shs.100,000/-

Total donations to CEWGSS: Shs.700,000/-
Total donations to Budap: Shs.100,000/-

If you wish to donate, please follow the instructions on the following link:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2010/12/jaffar-amin-has-arrived-in-moshi-for.html

Posts related to this one:
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2010/12/the-mwalimu-nyereremt-kilimanjaro.html
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2011/01/the-mwalimu-nyereremt-kilimanjaro_2.html

The Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb 2010 (post 2 of 12)

This is the second of twelve posts on the December 2010 Mt. Kilimanjaro climb.

*******************************************************
Tuesday 30 November 2010As soon I boarded a Nairobi-bound bus at Makutano on my way to Moshi, I was caught in a draft from the open bus windows and as I put on a jacket I realized I forgot to pack a heavy coat that is suitable for wearing at lower altitudes during the Kilimanjaro climb. I had a whole year to plan this year’s climb, and I forgot crucial wear! I sent a text message home asking someone to find a way to send the raincoat and another jacket I left behind, and I settled into my seat for a comfortable ride to Nairobi and to Moshi. I wished.

It wasn't comfortable.

After I sent the initial message I realized I also forgot a raincoat that is indispensable for climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro with the rainy season just about to start. I sent a second text message.

The Nairobi route to Arusha is uneventful, but lengthy. I would like those who object to a better road through the Serengeti as a comfortable alternative and shorter route for residents of Tanzania’s Mara region to try the Nairobi option once in a while and reflect on why Mara residents prefer a better road through the Serengeti.

The route and the outcome: Makutano – Nairobi: approximately 6 hours; transit time at Nairobi: 7 hours; Nairobi – Moshi (9 hours, if the bus does not break down.) Unfortunately, the bus did break down, twice. On reaching the Arusha terminal, there was a delay of more than an hour while the bus underwent some repairs of a burst hydraulic pipe.

We resumed the trip towards Moshi and half an hour before reaching Moshi, the bus broke down again and I reflected on the company’s motto: Connecting East Africa. Not today, I thought. Not today.
The first breakdown at Arusha.
I got off the bus and hopped onto an Arusha – Moshi commuter bus and reached Moshi and checked into a modest clean hotel on the first floor of the building that has a rental shop for mountain climbing gear.

Next: In Moshi

Posts related to this one:
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2010/12/another-donation-received-from-notburga.html
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2010/12/another-donation-to-kilimanjaro-charity.html

Wednesday 29 December 2010

Another donation received from Notburga Maskini

Notburga Maskini, a member of the Kilimanjaro Club, who was on last year's charity climb, has donated Sh.100,000/- to the Chief Edward Wanzagi Girls' Secondary School, one of the beneficiaries of this year's Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb.
Notburga Maskini
Current donors to Chief Edward Wanzagi Girls' Secondary School (CEWGSS):
1. Tanzania Gatsby Trust - Shs.500,000/-
2. Dina Mrango - Shs.100,000/-
3. Notburga Maskini - Shs.100,000/-

Total donations to CEWGSS: Shs.700,000/-.

If you wish to donate, please follow the instructions on the following link:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2010/12/jaffar-amin-has-arrived-in-moshi-for.html

Posts related to this one:
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2010/12/the-mwalimu-nyereremt-kilimanjaro_28.html
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2010/12/the-mwalimu-nyereremt-kilimanjaro.html

Notburga Maskini and Gerald Hando belatedly join the Kilimanjaro Club

The Kilimanjaro Club lists people I know who have scaled Mt. Kilimanjaro, including those who join me every year on the annual Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb and those who join me for my non-charity climbs. 
***********************************************************
Notburga Maskini and Gerald Hando climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro last year and should have been inducted into the 'Kilimanjaro Club' last year.

They joined the climb in October 2009.
Notburga Maskini, right, during last year's climb. In the middle, Gerald Hando of Clouds FM, and behind Gerald, the author of this post.
The updated Kilimanjaro club list is:
    No.
    Name
    Nationality
    Age
    Reached*
    Summit Date
    1.
    Madaraka Nyerere
    Tanzanian
    48
    Uhuru Peak
    24th August 2008
    2. 
    Le Huyhn
    Vietnamese
    Unknown
    Uhuru Peak
    25th August 2008
    3.
    Markus Geiger
    Swiss
    Unknown
    Uhuru Peak
    2009
    4.
    Gerald Hando
    Tanzanian
    Unknown
    Uhuru Peak
    6 October 2009
    5.
    Notburga Maskini
    Tanzanian
    49
    Stella Point
    6 October 2009
    *A climber is awarded a certificate for reaching one of three elevations: Uhuru Peak (5,895 AMSL), Stella Point (5,745 AMSL), or Gillman's Point (5,685 AMSL).
Posts related to this one:

Tuesday 28 December 2010

The Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb 2010 (post 1 of 12)

This is the first of twelve posts on the December 2010 Mt. Kilimanjaro climb.

*******************************************************
Monday 29 November 2010 Before last year’s climb, I discovered Mwanza’s second-hand goods market at Lango Moja offers a good selection of hiking boots. The boots I bought last year only barely survived the rigors of last year’s climb. This year I had to choose my boots wisely. I believe I did, after I bought a pair of thinly insulated boots called Red Wings. They proved tough, resilient, and ready to take on Kilimanjaro next year.
On my way back from Mwanza, I received a call from Jaffar Amin saying he had been involved in a car accident in Uganda in which his driver had died and he was seriously injured. Over a series of telephone conversation he told me he was being transferred to Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi for further treatment. I was scheduled to climb Kilimanjaro with Jaffar and the news of the accident was unfortunate as I was looking forward to his participation in the charity fund raising drive.

In a subsequent phone call, he asked me to send him some money to help with his treatment, and the alarm bells went off. Jaffar had not told me he was in Uganda. The next day I eventually summoned the will to call a number on which I had previously communicated with him. The real Jaffar answered the phone; he was fine, had not been involved in any accident, and was eagerly looking forward to joining me at Moshi for the 3rd annual Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb.

The fake Jaffar kept calling, asking me to find a way to transfer the money he had requested. I played on, saying I had asked a friend in Nairobi to deliver the money to him while I attempted to involve police authorities to lay a trap and nab him. He provided a ward number of the hospital, but when I told him my friend was on his way to the hospital with the money, the impostor changed his mind and suggested the money should be sent by Western Union to Entebbe.

After I decided I had wasted enough time I sent him the following text message:

“I give you credit for being a crook who takes precautions. I know you are not Jaffar, and I have only played along because I wanted to nab you, which I could have done if I had more time to waste. I suggest you immediately stop using the number you have because I have friends in both Uganda and Kenya who will surely catch up with you and your continued use of that number will make their work much easier.”

An hour later he sent me the following text message:

“Kindly employ me then.”

Very funny, I thought. I was not only dealing with a conman, but also an aspiring comedian.

Friday 24 December 2010

Another donation received from Dina Mrango for this year's Kilimanjaro climb

I have received and deposited to the Chief Edward Wanzagi Girls' Secondary School Fundraising account another donation for this year's Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb.

Dina Mrango
Dina Mrango of Toronto, Canada, has donated Shs.100,000/- to the school, one of the beneficiaries of this year's charity climb.

Current donors to Chief Edward Wanzagi Girls' Secondary School (CEWGSS):
1. Tanzania Gatbsy Trust - Shs.500,000/-
2. Dina Mrango - Shs.100,000/-

Total donations to CEWGSS: Shs.600,000/-.

Posts related to this one:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2010/12/jaffar-amin-has-arrived-in-moshi-for.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2010/12/jaffar-amin-and-i-reach-top-of-mt.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2010/12/mwalimu-nyereremt-kilimanjaro-charity.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2010/12/first-donation-to-this-years-mwalimu.html

Monday 20 December 2010

First donation to this year's Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb

I have just received news of the first donation of Shs.500,000/- (Five hundred thousand) received for Chief Edward Girls' Secondary School under this year's Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb from Tanzania Gatsby Trust.

I thank Tanzania Gatsby Trust (TGT) and especially TGT's Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Olive Luena, for this important donation.

Please keep those donations flowing to one or both of this year's beneficiaries:


Name of Account:
Chief Edward Wanzagi Girls’ Secondary School Fundraising

Bank:
National Bank of Commerce, Musoma Branch

Account Number:
030201191529
or to:

Name of Account:
Budap

Bank:
National Bank of Commerce, Bukoba Branch

Account Number:

Sunday 19 December 2010

The Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb postponed - CORRECTION OF Budap's Account Number

I made a mistake in the account number of BUDAP that I provided in earlier posts on this blog, one of the beneficiary's of the just concluded Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb.
I reach the top of Kilimanjaro for the third time.
The correct details are as follows:

Name of Account:
Budap

Bank:
National Bank of Commerce, Bukoba Branch

Account Number:

Tuesday 14 December 2010

Jaffar Amin and I reach the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro in charity climb

An indispensable factor that helps climbers reach the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the world's tallest free standing mountain, are the mountain guides.
 Mountain guide Solomon (left) and his counterpart, Ludovick (right) are dwarfed by Jaffar Amin (centre) moments before reaching Mt. Kilimanjaro's summit at 5,896m above sea level. In the background, the Southern Icefield.
Yesterday morning, through the guidance of Solomon (on the left of the photo) and Ludovick (on the right), I and Jaffar Amin reached the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in this year's Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb.

Having seen a preview of this photograph Solomon commented, "This guy is huge. Look at us. We look like chicks!" [the fowl version].

Posts related to this one:
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2010/12/jaffar-amin-has-arrived-in-moshi-for.html
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2010/12/the-mwalimu-nyereremt-kilimanjaro_19.html

Sunday 5 December 2010

Jaffar Amin has arrived in Moshi for The Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb

Jaffar Amin arrived in Moshi this afternoon to take part in the annual Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb which begins on 7 December.
I, on the right, pose with Jaffar on the left at Moshi moments after his arrival in Moshi. Mt. Kilimanjaro is seen in the background.
The climb aims to raise charitable donations from members of the public, including you, for two beneficiaries. They include the Chief Edward Wanzagi Girls' Secondary School whose bank particulars are:

Name of Account:
Chief Edward Wanzagi Girls’ Secondary School Fundraising

Bank:
National Bank of Commerce, Musoma Branch

Account Number:
030201191529

The school still needs funds to complete various projects including a library, and recreational grounds.

The second beneficiary is Bukoba Disabled Assistance Project (BUDAP), a Bukoba-based NGO established in 2005 to empower the disabled through training and employment. Details of BUDAP’s activities can be obtained here:

BUDAP's bank details are:

Name of Account:
Budap

Bank:
National Bank of Commerce, Bukoba Branch

Account Number: