To encourage safer environments within east african communities
UNFCU staff member organizes Mt. Kilimanjaro climb
The term “moving mountains” is
often used as a figure of speech.
However, Tim Challen, a UNFCU
Member Service Representative
from the Geneva Representative Office, is literally
taking on the phrase by raising awareness
about crime in East African communities
and empowering individuals to affect positive
change — for themselves and for their neighborhoods.
To this end, Tim has received support
from UN-Habitat, the United Nations
Environment Programme, NGOs and local
authorities in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam to
launch the Kilimanjaro Initiative.
Specifically, from 25 February through
1 March 2006, Tim will be leading 35
climbers to the summit of Africa’s highest
peak. The goal: raise funds to support several
new community-based crime prevention
projects which are part of UNHabitat’s
local Safer Cities Programme.
A Personal Mission
Nearly three years ago while working in Nairobi, Tim sustained serious
gunshot wounds to his left leg during an armed robbery. Since
then, he decided to channel his energies into bringing attention to
some of the problems facing East Africa’s cities and combating the
underlying causes of crime via the Safer Cities Programme. Launched
in 1996, Safer Cities is creating a culture of safe urban environments
across Africa and is comprised of youths, community groups and local
law enforcement officials as well as the private sector.
Symbolically, 10 young people from disadvantaged areas in Kenya
and Tanzania will join Tim, staff members from UN-Habitat, UNEP,
additional UN agencies, UNFCU, as well as Michael J. Connery Jr.,
president and CEO of the credit union, on the climb to the “Rooftop of
Africa.” General Sarakikya, a retired Tanzanian general and diplomat
who was the first to plant the Tanzanian flag on the mountain’s summit
following his country’s independence, will escort the team up the
Marangu Route.
“I wanted to help make East African communities safer places in
which to live,” says Mr. Challen, who has long had a dream to reach
the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, a 5,896-meter high sleeping volcano. “If
this climb can inspire one person not to give up on their dreams and to
believe that their life can improve, I feel our climb will have succeeded,”
adds Challen, who hopes to raise US$50,000 through donations
to further Safer Cities.
Funds generated from the climb will support grassroots projects,
including the renovation of a soccer field in Kibera, Nairobi which is
currently a hotspot for crime; start-up small businesses run by youths
with ensuing profits going towards establishing nightly, neighborhood
patrols, thereby deterring crime; and a water project in Kiluvya Ward
Kinondoni, Dar es Salaam whose sales will help fund a security-watch
group.
UN-Habitat, which helped select the young
people for the challenge, will also oversee the
distribution of funds for the various projects.“This is the first effort of its kind on behalf
of Safer Cities and we are proud to work with
Tim and UNFCU to continue to strengthen
civic responsibility within communities,
engage youth and prevent crime,” said Anna
Tibaijuka, Under Secretary-General and the
Executive Director of UN-Habitat. “The climb
represents a mission of hope and a true lesson
in overcoming adversity.”
Said Eric Falt, Director of Communications
for UNEP and Director of the UN Information
Centre: «Most people would have reacted
negatively to the kind of trauma experienced
by Tim when he first visited Nairobi. Under
these circumstances, it takes intellectual
courage and intelligence to understand the
root causes of crime and poverty, and Tim
has turned this defining event in his life into
an inspired leadership initiative.»
Climb Embraces UN Goals
The launch of the Kilimanjaro Initiative in
November 2005 coincided with the UN International
Year of Sport, Development and
Peace Conference – itself a prime mover in
enhancing safe spaces through sports and
youth development. A major focus of the
climb is to encourage youth leadership
through sport. To this end, UNFCU has
donated funds to sponsor Outward Bound
Training to prepare the youths for the physical
and mental demands of the ascent. Additionally,
UNFCU will be picking up the cost
of equipment, lodging and travel expenses for
them to participate.
“UNFCU staff, management and our Board
of Directors supports Tim’s remarkable climb
and his ability to transform a harmful experience
into building hope and a brighter future
for others,” said Mr. Connery. “In taking up
Tim’s cause, we are also realizing the Credit
Union spirit of ‘People Helping People’ and
furthering our commitment to the UN and UN
agency communities in East Africa.”
Sponsorship
To assist Tim’s fundraising efforts, the
credit union established a special UNFCU
account, The Kilimanjaro Challenge
Fund. If you are a member of UNFCU and wish to make a donation, please visit the
UNFCU website, www.unfcu.org, and
click on Internet Banking. Select the
Online Forms link on the top menu and
choose the Member-to-Member Transfer
Request Form. Enter Kilimanjaro
Challenge in the Beneficiary Last Name
and First Name and 803330 in the UNFCU
Beneficiary Member Number fields.
To learn more about the Kilimanjaro Initiative,
please visit:
www.kilimanjaroinitiative.org
More information about Safer Cities
can be obtained via the UN-Habitat website:
http://www.unhabitat.org/programmes/safercities
We wish Tim and the entire Kilimanjaro
Initiative team every success in their challenging
endeavor and look forward to providing
you with an update!
Contact: Elisabeth Philippe, UNFCU,
+1 212.338.8100, ext. 3068 ephilippe@unfcu.com
© 2006 UN Special |