"Good things happen when people do more than they have to" Hermann Gmeiner, Founder of SOS Children’s Villages
Congratulations on aiming high for SOS Villages d'Enfants Monde - 5,895m high to be precise! By joining the team you are becoming part of an experience that you will never forget and making a lifetime's difference to children served by SOS in Arusha, Tanzania.
The 9-day adventure begins on the morning of Thursday 5th March 2015 departing from Luxembourg Airport and flying to Kilimanjaro Airport via Amsterdam. After a night's rest, you will spend the first day visiting the SOS Children's Village and School in Arusha and have an opportunity to see first-hand how big a difference is being made to each child served by the project. Later that evening you will have your final expedition briefing prior to travelling to the mountain the following morning.
Our journey to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro will take place over the course of 6-days via the Rongai route. From the trek's starting point at 1,950m elevation, you will trek through savannah bushland, montane forest, heath and moorland, alpine desert and ice cap before finally arriving at Uhuru Summit at 5,895m. Having achieved the feat of trekking to the 'Roof of Africa' you will descend to Kilimanjaro Park Gate and return to the lodge in Arusha to freshen up and enjoy a celebratory meal before returning later that evening to Kilimanjaro Airport for the return journey home, again via Amsterdam, arriving back into Luxembourg Airport on the morning of Saturday 14th March 2014.
Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest walkable mountain in the world and therefore requires no technical experience or equipment. It is however a considerable and, at times, gruelling challenge. The midnight ascent to the summit is the toughest test both physically and mentally but the effect of being at altitude will also play its part throughout. A good level of physical fitness and a strong will is therefore required, and advance training and preparation is advised to help you achieve your goal and enjoy the experience of doing so.
The cost of the trip is €3,200. This includes international flights from and to Luxembourg Airport, transfers and travel, accommodation, meals, Kilimanjaro National Park entrance fees and fully supported expedition costs. It does not include transport to and from Luxembourg Airport, personal clothing and equipment, visa processing fees, travel insurance, vaccines and medication, or personal expenses – including drinks. To confirm your place on the Challenge Team, please select ‘Book Your Place’ above and complete the booking form. Upon submitting the completed form, you will be given instructions for paying the non-refundable trip deposit of €600 by bank transfer or cheque. The remaining trip cost balance is due no later than two months in advance of departure.
In addition to trip costs, each member of the team commits to fundraise €3,000 (or more where possible) in sponsorship money to support the projects of SOS Villages d’Enfants Monde in Tanzania. Your commitment to fundraise 80% of this target (or more) by no later than one month prior to departure is a condition of participation. More in Terms & Conditions, article 7.
To download the trip itinerary click here.
To download the full Terms & Conditions click here.
To book your place click here.
Optional Extensions
Some team members may wish to extend their stay and make the most of Tanzania's many wonders and we will happily adapt the itinerary to suit you. We can work with you to book an extension of your choosing - whether it be a safari, time in Zanzibar or both - or we can simply extend the date of your return flight to enable you to make your own arrangements. Either way, upon booking your place simply contact us to indicate your preferences and we will work with you to do the rest.
The most popular extension option is the three-day safari. Should this be of interest, the itinerary below shows the detail of how this would be structured - as well as the price based on three team members taking part and having private rooms throughout:
March 13th: Guided game-drive to Tarangire National Park. Overnight at Migunga Forest Camp consisting of semi-luxury permanent tented accommodation. Includes: breakfast, lunch & dinner.
March 14th: Guided game-drive to Ngorongoro Crater. Overnight at Migunga Forest Camp consisting of semi-luxury permanent tented accommodation. Includes: breakfast, lunch & dinner.
March 15th: Guided game-drive to Lake Manyara. Late afternoon/early evening return to Kilimanjaro Airport to connect onto return flight - which would then arrive back into Luxembourg the following morning, Monday 16th March. Includes: breakfast & lunch.
The cost of the above would be 750€ per person should three or more people want to opt for this option, and based on single supplements throughout. However, we are happy to help facilitate whatever extension you might be interested in - whether it be as we have set out above, an adapted version, or a simple Arusha/Zanzibar extension.
Find out more about the challengers or make a donation by clicking on a picture below:
SOS Villages d’Enfants Monde is a Luxembourgish association, which belongs to SOS Children's Villages International, the worldwide federation of SOS Children's Villages associations.
A non-denominational, non-governmental organisation, it is dedicated to helping orphans and other abandoned and destitute children in 134 countries and territories. Over 82,000 young people have found a new home in the 1,171 SOS Children's Villages and the SOS Youth Facilities. Over 160,000 children and young people receive an education through 185 SOS Schools, 227 SOS Kindergartens and 50 SOS Vocational Training Centres. With 119 SOS Social Centres it also helps over 410,000 people – mainly children and their families – through Family Strengthening Programmes providing material, psychological and educational support. 75 SOS Medical Centres are open to help the local populations. Last but not least, SOS operates today 7 emergency programmes in regions where the organisation is active.
In operation for 40 years, SOS Villages d’Enfants Monde has drawn upon the support of Luxembourg's Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Directorate of Development Cooperation and the generosity of its many donors, sponsors and friends to undertake concrete projects. These include the construction of SOS Children's Villages, schools, kindergartens, social and medical infrastructures as well as Family Strengthening and emergency aid programmes. The Luxembourg association currently supports 6 SOS Children’s Villages, 23 Family Strengthening Programmes, 5 educational and vocational programmes and 5 emergency relief programmes (Syria, Philippines, Haiti, Liberia) benefiting more than 89,000 beneficiaries.
Furthermore, development education is also one of its strategic pillars – and the organisation is dedicating special attention to raising awareness about development issues and child rights in educational and extra-curricular facilities as well as among the public.
In spite of its booming tourism industry and the success of its other industries, many of Arusha’s residents live in a state of poverty. The development of infrastructure has not kept pace with rapid population growth.This has left many families living in slums and facing serious threats to their health and wellbeing. SOS Children is working to support those living in poverty and hardship in Arusha, particularly its children.
Arusha, with its population of more than one million inhabitants, is a city located in northern Tanzania, close to the border with Kenya. It sits among some of Africa’s most famous attractions, including Mount Kilimanjaro and the Great Rift Valley. It is considered a major international diplomatic hub as well as being the region’s financial and cultural centre.
In spite of Arusha’s prosperity, many of its inhabitants are living in poverty and daily hardship. Children are society’s most vulnerable group, and often take to the streets in order to survive. Older children, aged 15 to 18 years, travel from rural areas in search of employment opportunities to support their families at home.
The city’s infrastructure has not kept up with rapid population growth and living conditions have worsened. The number of families living in slums continues to increase, and overcrowding and a lack of sanitation are a serious threat to the wellbeing of these people.
Strengthening the community for long-term development
SOS Children started work with the children and families of Arusha in 2000. The SOS family strengthening programme is a key focus, and provides parents and children with the resources they need to create a stable family environment, in order to keep the family unit together.
The SOS Social Centre helps to alleviate the hardship faced by many in their daily lives by providing essential social services to around 1,400 children and their carers.
An SOS day care provides education, and three meals a day, for up to 75 children, allowing their parents to work or search for employment knowing their children are in a safe and happy environment. Basic education is provided for children who have never attended school, and the social centre helps keep other children at school by assisting parents with school fees and paying for school uniforms. The SOS Social Centre also provides food packages to struggling families.
Helping families to be healthy
SOS Children works closely with local organisations in Arusha to help parents and carers to improve their situation, gain skills and confidence, and ultimately provide for their families. The SOS Social Centre offers vocational training courses and training to help improve parenting skills, including child health and development, child rights, nutrition and hygiene. SOS Children also helps parents and adult carers by giving micro-credits to enable them to start small businesses of their own.
SOS Children’s Villages has an established medical centre in Arusha, offering healthcare to the local community, voluntary HIV testing and counselling, and free treatment and medication to those affected by HIV/AIDS. The centre is also focused on maternal health and provides gynaecology, counselling and vaccinations to teenage and child mothers in particular. The centre treats nearly 5,000 patients each year.
The Children's Village in Arusha
Fifteen SOS families provide stable homes for up to 150 children who are no longer able to live with their parents. SOS children grow up alongside their SOS brothers and sisters, under the care of an affectionate SOS Mother.
The younger children attend the SOS Nursery School with children from the local area, allowing them to make friendships and integrate with their community from an early age. SOS children complete their primary and secondary education with their peers at SOS schools. Around 500 students attend Arusha’s SOS schools.
When the older children feel ready to move out of the family home, they have the option of moving into shared, semi-independent accommodation. Here, they are supported by the SOS Youth Programme, and assisted by a qualified counsellor as they continue they education or vocational training.
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