LAKE TANGANYIKA KAYAK EXPEDITION 2008
CREW MAP&ROUTE KAYAK PHOTOS SPONSORS
CHARITABLE BENEFICIARIES BLOG (DAILY REPORTS)
WINSTON CHIZU
The expedition provided benefit to:
1. In South Africa: Dare to Dream
The team raised funds for Dare to Dream, a South African Non Profit Organisation. They are doing great work with children with life threatening illnesses, including cancer, HIV / AIDS and other blood related illnesses. The main aim of Dare to Dream is to take children between the ages of 7 to 13 who are suffering with these illnesses on camps ranging from 3 to 5 days, at no cost to child or parent during school holidays. The camps focus will be to provide the children the opportunity to experience adventure, learn life skills, play games, make new friends, talk about their problems and fears with trained staff & volunteers and to enjoy the fellowship of those who are experiencing similar problems. In essence this helps bring emotional relief, laughter and joy to their lives. Please see http://www.daretodream.co.za/ for more detail.
2. In Tanzania and Zambia: Mothers with babies and toddlers living next to the lake
This expedition took Morné and Louis through parts of Africa that is generally difficult to access. The lack of proper road infrastructure, especially along the southern end of the lake, makes access to some of the villages which we will visit incredibly difficult. In the wet season road access becomes impossible at times. As you are probably aware, the threat of malaria is one of the biggest challenges that equatorial Africa faces today. Young children under the age of five, who lack the necessary immunity to fight this disease, are the most exposed to this threat. In additional to the high mortality rate, the disease also has a crippling effect on Africa’s economy in terms of loss of productivity. The need for these communities to combat malaria in a self sufficient manner is therefore vital.
Malaria kills 3,000 children under the age of five each day in Africa. These nets are to be provided to mothers with babies and toddlers. Although this is a massive problem, we could make a difference for a few whose paths were crossed. The team distributed a number of mosquito nets next to the lake to assist with the combat of malaria. The South African Outdoor equipment company First Ascent has donated half of the nets that were distributed. The other half was donated by Wag Hill Lodge, who offers an opportunity to relax, unwind and explore one of the last indigenous environments on the shores of Lake Victoria, Tanzania.