Ntsebeng Motsoeli
MASERU — A 22-year-old Mosotho woman, ‘Maphoka Ramokoatsi, will next week seek to scale Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, for a worthy cause.
Ramokoatsi’s escapade is part of a campaign to raise awareness about the need to end violence against women and girls in Africa.
She will be part of the United Nations’ Africa UNITE Campaign dubbed “Climb Up and Speak Out” that will run from March 5 to 9.
The climbers from 54 nations are expected to reach the top of the mountain on March 8, coinciding with the International Women’s Day where they will state their commitment to ending violence against women and girls.
“The key objectives for the climb are to raise global awareness on ending violence against women and girls in Africa, and to state each country’s national commitments to end violence against women and girls by 2015,” a statement by the organisers said.
Ramokoatsi was picked by Kick4Life Lesotho, an non-governmental organisation that seeks to tackle the Aids through sport.
Kick4Life said Ramokoatsi was chosen to represent Lesotho because of her commitment empower local youths and women.
“Puky (Ramokoatsi) has been volunteering at Kick4Life since 2009 where she is involved in a programme for vulnerable women called Women4Women.
“Puky helps with teaching the women valuable life skills, while continuing to run HIV interventions as a Kick4Life coach,” the organisation said.
Speaking to the Sunday Express on Friday, Ramokoatsi said she was excited to get this “once in a lifetime experience”.
“I am very committed to ending violence against women and girls, and I’m looking forward to meeting girls from all over Africa and learning from their experiences,” Ramokoatsi said.
Ramokoatsi will leave for Tanzania next weekend.
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