Mark Aston climbs Kilimanjaro for Rooftops Canada
Helping to build housing and communities in East Africa
Update on the Kilimanjaro climb
After completing a two-week study tour with Rooftops Canada in Tanzania and Kenya, I flew to Kilimanjaro International Airport to meet two friends and then climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Our goals were simple: to reach the top, have some fun and raise some money for Rooftops Canada’s’ excellent work in East Africa. I am happy to report that all were accomplished. The climb itself was spectacular and took us through rainforest, alpine moorland and plateau and the glaciated summit and rim of the volcano. On the final day we reached the over 19,000 foot summit at 7am after a seven hour hike. The wind was cold and the air thin but we were all extremely pleased with our accomplishment.
As I reflected on the previous 3 weeks when descending from the summit, I was pleased that we had been able to raise $2,000 for Rooftops Canada’s work. I also felt very privileged to have met with our many housing partners in East Africa and to have seen firsthand the positive effects of the Rooftops Canada supported housing micro-finance programs. I thought of one very powerful image. It is that of a man sitting in his new living room, talking to us visitors about his home and business, and about being a father. He was proud, positive and energetic. A few years earlier, prior to getting assistance from Rooftops Canada and its Kenyan housing partner the National Association Cooperative Housing Union of Kenya, he was living in a shack with no lights, water or sanitation.
Thank you very much for your support! Asante sana kwa msaada wako!
Mark Aston
