Updates From The "Save The Children" Mt Kilimanjaro Climb

March 2: Downpours again failed to dampen the spirits of our climbers and the hundreds of Malawian children and adults in every community who turned out to welcome them to their communities.. Climbers Tom Miller, Shelley Brown, Steve Kelley and Donovan Cook traveled to the remoterural community of Mtosa, where they met Tom’s sponsored child, a boy named Foster, and his family. Their joy and delight in meeting transcended the language barrier; their later arrival at Save the Children’s community school that Foster and other sponsored children attend was greeted by nearly everyone in Mtosa. The rest of the climbers toured other Save the Children HIV/AIDS programs, had lunch with the Mangochi District Commissioner and visited the Mbaui school in Mangochi to learn how we integrate important health, nutrition and HIV/AIDS awareness activities into the school day so that children can be healthier and stay in school. “Save the Children’s model really works,” said climber Steve Brown. “And, it’s replicable and scalable.”

March 1: Hundreds of women and children lined the muddy road into the community of Dedza, Malawi today, welcoming our 14 Mt. Kilimanjaro Climb for Children 2004 climbers with a reception of song and clapping. On their first of three days seeing Save the Children’s HIV/AIDS community mobilization programs in action, the climbers heard of the progress the local District AIDS Committee has made in raising awareness of HIV and AIDS. They visited new community childcare centers Save the Children has helped organize and accompanied volunteers conducting home visits to families in which an adult suffers an AIDS-related illness. Our three youngest climbers, Linnea Nasman, Laura Mason and Derek Ward, learned firsthand what it’s like to be 14 and caring for a family. They visited a household headed by a 14-year-old girl orphaned by AIDS who, with the support of Dedza’s Village AIDS Committee, cares for three younger siblings, goes to school, gardens and barters her produce for an income.

Make Donations In Jeff Aments Name, Go Here:
https://www.savethechildren.org/donation-signinregistration.jsp
Bio On Pearl Jam bassist, Jeff Ament moved to Seattle from Montana in 1983. He instantly forged a cosmic connection with Steve Kelley, who regularly wrote about the Seattle Supersonics. Around 1996, Jeff finally met Steve at the Children’s Hospital and later found out they had a common acquaintance in Donovan Cook, who worked for CARE. Jeff's band, Pearl Jam, donated toward the Kosovo Relief Fund in care of CARE and others which begat conversations with Donovan about this incredible CLIMB FOR THE CHILDREN. Finally, Jeff is going to Africa. He also likes to play basketball and skateboard in pools.