Kilimanjaro charity climb builds classroom in Tanzania

Lawrence and Leesha Mafuru, Parkland County residents and founders of Boma Africa, are organizing a six-day charity climb of Mount Kilimanjaro from Jan. 15 to 25 in 2016. Participants will be in Lawrence’s very capable hands: born in the Serengeti and raised in the national parks of Tanzania, Lawrence has made the climb at least 50 times. Once, he even made the trip — up and down — in just nine hours.

People who want to travel the world and leave a lasting impact on the places they visit — these are the people Lawrence and Leesha Mafuru hope to climb Mount Kilimanjaro with in January.
The Mafurus are Parkland County residents, but more than that, they are the founders of Boma Africa, a non-profit organization located in Tanzania that provides tourism opportunities for world travellers and directs its proceeds into local community development projects.
And in roughly four months (from Jan. 15 to 25, 2016), they plan to escort as many travellers as possible up Mount Kilimanjaro for a six-day charity climb in support of a Grade 1 classroom at the Boma Community School in Mto Wa Mbu, Tanzania.
Currently, the Boma Community School consists of one Kindergarten class where roughly 25 students have a newfound opportunity to learn. Before this project began, the nearest school to Mto Wa Mbu was too far for the children to walk to.
“The kids now are safe. They don’t need to walk six miles to go to school,” said Lawrence describing the long-term impacts of the school.
However, without a Grade 1 classroom, these Tanzanian children will have nowhere to attend school next year. Lawrence says the classroom will cost roughly $20,000 — an amount they hope to raise through the charity climb.

Eventually, the Mafurus’ dream is to see the existing classroom grow into a K-12 school where children will learn Swahili and English immersion, arts, sports, international curriculum and provide for career exchange opportunities for North American teachers.
Additionally, they plan to build a birth centre, Boma la Mama Birth Centre, to provide midwifery training and expectant mothers with excellent maternity care.
Leesha, who has a bachelor’s degree in health sciences (midwifery), says the Tanzanian clinics are extremely short staffed with limited beds and supplies. Also, training is often outdated.
“Ideally, one day we’ll have a college for midwifery,” she said. “We want it to be a place where Tanzanians can work with other midwives to learn a different way (to provide this care).”
In total, Boma Africa has a 10-acre parcel of land the local council has given them in exchange for these community development projects.
Lawrence says Boma Africa has provided employment opportunities for the Tanzanian people while opening the doors to cross-cultural exchanges with people from around the world.
One such cross-cultural exchange will happen after the charity climb when participants have an opportunity to meet the children of Mto Wa Mbu and volunteer at the school.
“They will know they travel with cause,” Lawrence said.
Leesha, who is originally from Canada and met Lawrence in Tanzania during a university work placement, says the climb is for people of all ages and need not intimidate the urban dweller.
“It’s not a technical climb at all,” she said. “You don’t need any climbing skills. Kilimanjaro is a mountain for everyone but it is hard work.”
The Mafurus simply recommend that participants strive to be somewhat active before the trip.
The charity climb will cost each participant $2,500 and will include all necessary climbing gear and food during the climb. Flights to Tanzania will be an additional cost. For more information or to donate to the Boma Community School, visit bomaafrica.com.