2016 started with a big bang for David Schembri, David Xuereb, Sandro Azzopardi, Maressa Zahra, Daniela Spiteri Fiteni, Claire Falzon, Sofi Sarkas, Bettina Mifsud, Mario Pullicino, Ambrose Licari, Celine Xuereb, Michela Catania, Leanne Bartolo, Jane Camilleri, Tezara Camilleri, Matthew Spiteri and Matthew Camilleri; the contingent of Maltese volunteers forming the Kilimanjaro Challenge 9. The group is brought together by Keith Marshall, who every year sets up the Kilimanjaro Challenge. This year all managed to accomplish a yearlong challenge with a once in a life-time trip of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.

These 17 volunteers decided to join the Kilimanjaro Challenge, a challenge to climb the mountain whilst raising funds for charity. Mt. Kilimanjaro, located in Tanzania, is the highest free standing mountain and also ranking 4th of the highest peaks in the world; known as the Roof of Africa. It stands at a glorious, yet quite dangerous altitude (due to the low supply of oxygen), of 5,895 meters.

The Kilimanjaro Challenge always supports the registered voluntary organisation: Missionary Movement Jesus in thy Neighbour. Every year, a project is allocated to the challenge, and the members commit themselves to raise funds and finance this project. This year, the first kindergarten school was built in Sorsa, a very remote and poor village in Ethiopia.

The 17 members of the Kilimanjaro Challenge 9 faced a tough year in 2015. They all started training hard and raising funds for the upcoming challenge. Training involved meeting 3 times a week for early long treks of 20km on Sundays, 15km during the week as well as hill training. Each member was also required to train individually on other days. The other part of the challenge was organising various fund raising events to collect €70,000 for the school.

The group left Malta on 27 December 2015, and headed to face Mt. Kilimanjaro. On the 30th December the group started the week long climb taking the Machame Route. The night between the 4th and 5th January was the last and toughest night that the group had to face. It was summit night, and that meant that the group had to set off to push through the arctic-like cold and darkness, and persevere through the effects of altitude sickness (headaches, nausea, vomiting and shortness of breath) to reach the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. All members reached Uhuru Peak and stood proud on the roof of Africa on the morning of the 5th of January.

After this experience and a short well-deserved break, the Kilimanjaro Challenge 9 travelled to Ethiopia for the inauguration of the kindergarten school. They were welcomed by Fr. George Grima, the founder of the Missionary Movement Jesus in thy Neighbour; and Keith Marshall. Together they took a further 10 hour drive to reach Arramo, a small village where they were being hosted by the nuns of the Society Helpers of Mary.

During the stay in Ethiopia, the Maltese volunteers were helping the nuns distributing food to children, visiting poor families and helping in a monthly child medical clinic. They also visited the completed school, which still awaits the completion of the playground.

On 17 January, the school in Sorsa was inaugurated. There was a big celebration in the village which started off with a mass, and then all the people walked together to the school. The inauguration was celebrated by the Bishop Giovanni Migliorati and afterwards food was given to all the people that were present.

Thanks to the generosity of the Maltese people and the courage and perseverance of the team members, this special day had successfully completed the Kilimanjaro Challenge 9. The Kilimanjaro Challenge does not stop here, a call of interest has already been issued for next year's challenge. Those interested are invited to visit the Facebook page Kilimanjaro Challenge Malta. Those who would still like to donate to help us finish the playground for the children of Sorsa, we invite you to call on 51502084 for a €5 donation, 51602028 for a €10 donation and 51802095 for a €25 donation; or message on 50617389 for a donation of €2.33 or 50618062 for a donation of €4.66.