Top of North America for the Congo! Denali

More to come, but I reached the Denali Summit (6194 m) on June 1, 2010 as part of my Climb Take Action Campaign for women in the Congo (this is my fifth of the seven summits). It was an incredible adventure indeed and a true test of will each and every day!! I feel very blessed and extremely grateful for a wonderful team, including the most amazing guides.

I will be posting pics and a full report shortly, but just wanted to give a quick update.

International Medical Corps continues to need support for their programs in the Congo, please visit our website.

Best,

Georgina

A little more about the women and organization my climbs support…..

I am writing this in route to Alaska…next up is Mt. McKinley or Denali 6,194 m for International Medical Corps and the women and children of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. I will be climbing from May19-June 8th.

Last July, I had the privilege of visiting two of the Refugee settlements that International Medical Corps supports in Uganda- Nakivale and Kyaka II. The visit still lives vivid in my mind, and I thought it was important to share with you all a little of what I experienced while in Uganda and why your support is needed for the campaign . . . .

So what is it that inspires us?

As a management consultant . . . I ask my clients this question on a daily basis. For me it was a little over 2 years ago that I was inspired to launch the Climb Take Action Campaign, after reading an article Eve Ensler wrote for Glamour magazine. The article detailed the horror women were facing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and how rape was being used as a weapon of war by the militia. As a woman, the details in this article were so atrocious and offensive, I became consumed with the notion of trying to do something to help women like those I had read about. Their stories were my inspiration to go out and pursue my dream of reaching the highest peak on each continent in order to raise funds and awareness to their situation in hopes of making a positive impact on their lives. Well here I am two plus years down the road. . having reached the highest peak of four continents with 3 more to go . . . and now being inspired not only by these women and children, but by those working diligently on a daily basis to help them.

After summiting Kilimanjaro last summer in July, Genevieve, Brooke, and I headed to Kampala to meet Stephanie Bowen of International Medical Corps and prepare for our journey to the Nakivale and Kyaka II Refugee Settlements in Western and Southern Uganda. Both of these settlements, although in Uganda, are hosts to a large Congolese refugee population. We arrived on 19th of July and departed on the 25th of July. When I look back on my life and look for instances and sources of inspiration. . .well this week will be at the top of my list. The aim of my visit was to meet the women and children the campaign was supporting, learn more about their needs, and share their story in hopes of raising additional support and awareness for them and International Medical Corps.

A little more about the Journey to Uganda….

I really had no idea what to expect upon arrival in Kampala, Uganda. I had now been to Kenya and Tanzania, and Senegal, and quickly realized each African country if very unique in its own right… so I was in for a surprise. I arrived in the evening in Kampala and was greeting by airport staff all wearing white masks. . .I was then told I would need to fill out a health questionnaire prior to going through customs (due to swine flu scare). It was all very organized though and the airport was nothing like Dakar THANK GOD! After about an hour of this and customs I finally was able to retrieve my bags and be on my way. I found the landscape of Uganda very beautiful and it saddens me a bit to see that a beautiful country had been destroyed by years of civil conflict. Kampala, I felt was a very well organized and a somewhat modern city for Africa- you could not feel the effects of the conflict in this city. This would not be the case once we arrive at the Refugee Settlements. There was a vast difference between the “haves” and “have-nots”, but that is very common I have found in third world countries. It was easy to get around in a vehicle (as long as you are good at swerving into oncoming traffic and passing other cars : ) After spending one night in Kampala, we met with the International Medical Corp team in the morning for a briefing and then were off for our 6 hour car journey to the refugee settlements. The 6 hour drive took us far outside the city center and gave us a taste as to what life in rural Uganda was like, but more importantly as to what life was like for those displaced by civil conflict and now living in Refugee Settlements.

International Medical Corps Staff

Like I’ve mentioned I work in management consulting, thus I am exposed to various business organizations all the time, each facing various issues. All I can say is that the Uganda team for International Medical Corps is lean and mean and working miracles with the limited resources they have to work with. They also are incredibly humble and dedicated to their work, from Dr. JoJo (Clinical Director) to Claire (Program Director for SGBV) to Jennifer (Coordinator) to Betty (Psycho Social Worker) to everyone else we met . . . there is a common DNA in all of them, they love what they do, they are passionate about those they support, and experts at optimizing the use of any resources that become available in order to deploy them in a manner that will have the greatest impact. They are a team, by every definition. Their work has a tremendous impact on a daily basis and it was incredible humbling and inspirational to spend a week with them.


What was most powerful, was listening to survivors at these refugee settlements describe how International Medical Corps had impacted their lives and how grateful they were for their services. In addition, as International Medical Corps works in partnerships with various NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) at these settlements, it was remarkable to meet with the various directors from these NGOs and governmental agencies and learn the high regard they hold International Medical Corps in. Everyone we met held the utmost respect and gratitude to International Medical Corps and their dedicated work and commitment to the communities they serve.
Their dedicated Uganda Team was indeed an inspiration of selfless individuals working hard every day, leaving their families behind in some cases for long periods of time in an effort to help others. AMAZING!

The Women and Children...

Strength, Courage, Determination, Resilience, and Inspiration . . . all words to describe the incredible women and children I met at Nakivale and Kyaka II. It’s honestly very difficult to know where to start describing our week at the Refugee Settlements, I rather not give a play by play of all that happened each day, but rather share the stories of some of the women and children we met, and tell you a little bit more about how these settlements operate and have a tremendous impact in the life of thousands. I will tell you the most challenging part of this visit was not being able to immediately help some of the survivors we met, as was leaving them behind….had I not had to go straight back to work, I would have happily spent more time there and then gone to Congo (DRC) as well….but time did not allow for that on this visit and I hope I can return sometime soon.


Let me start with telling you that these Refugee Settlements are run and operate through a series of partnerships between various NGOs (non-profit organizations). International Medical Corps played a critical role at the two settlements we visited by providing Psycho-Social services, AIDs treatment, Nutritional Programs. In the settlements they support in the Congo, they also provide direct medical support and train local health professionals to create sustainable solutions for the communities they serve.


Life at these settlements is hard no doubt and resources limited. New arrivals are given some supplies to construct a straw/adobe like hut, food rations, water rations, mosquito net (prevent Malaria). They also undergo an assessment to determine the type of care if any needed. The Office of the Prime Minister plays a vital role in the management of the two settlements we visited.

While at Nakivale and Kyaka II I encountered survivors with similar stories to the women of the article I had read about almost 2 years ago that started me on this journey.

In summary, a little snap shot of the women and girls I met:

• A mother who shared her story of having to flee the Congo back in 2007 after her town was attacked by rebel militia. She recounted the story of being raped during the attack, seeing many of the men in her village shot, having two of her children murdered, and losing her husband and two other children for over a year and then reunited with them at the Refugee Settlement. Not only had she and some of her daughters been raped during the brutal attack, but she was then raped again in her transit to Uganda. She was left to survive in the bush for days at a time completely alone, and somehow managed to cross the Congolese border and enter Uganda, where kind strangers provided her with transit and referrals to churches and other NGOs that eventually helped her and her remaining family arrive at this Refugee Settlement.

• International Medical Corps had played a vital role in her recovery upon arrival to the settlement, as she was suffering from abdominal injuries from the rape; she was psychologically scared and was not speaking. She confirmed how grateful she was to International Medical Corps for securing the appropriate medical care, psychological support, and linkage within the settlement community. They had helped her survive and still be able to take care of her family. Her younger daughter was then suffering of Malaria and so she was seeking support for her little girl.

• We also sadly met a young little girl of 5 that had just been raped while living at this settlement …really shocking to see her innocent face and imagine why anyone would do such a thing. Again International Medical Corps’ role in training community leaders in the settlement that Sexual-Gender-Based violence is wrong is vital to stopping rape amongst the refugee communities. They also were now providing psycho-social support to the little girl and her family and ensuring appropriate care was available.

• We also met a young mother whose little daughter of only a few months was HIV free thanks to the preventive care provided by International Medical Corps to help reduce the risks of HIV Positive mothers, passing on the disease to their babies. This was a heartwarming success story and the little baby girl was adorable and thriving, which would not have been the case had International Medical Corps not intervene.
  
• Then there were other stories of women, who we did not personally meet, but which community educators or psycho-social worker told us about that were recovering still from traumatic attacks faced back in the Congo and now trying to build a life at this refugee settlement. The one that lives most vividly with me is the story of a wife and mother that was forced to kill her husband and four children with a machete by the militia when they attacked her town and raped her. International Medical Corps is helping her recover from this emotional scaring and providing her with the appropriate support. I was amazed to hear she was still alive, I could not imagine being able or wanting to survive after such an unbearable situation.

• The settlements also have some schooling for the children that live there, we were able to visit one of the schools and meet with some of the children that are part of an AIDS Club. Their role is to educate other children about AIDS and how to protect yourself against it by producing songs, skits, etc. The club has been very successful and the children were kind enough to present us with some of the songs they had written to educate their fellow peers. They then had a Q&A session with us and Dr. JoJo from International Medical Corps. It was interesting to hear their questions and concerns. The question that jumped out at me the most…..”Is there AIDS in America?” As we all know, of course there is….but it was interesting to know that maybe these young children feel that only their communities have to deal with this deadly disease.
  
• We also met many little children living in the settlement, some born there, some orphans, but all precious and still able to SMILE…still curious to see who these strange visitors were, still able to want their picture taken and immediately see the results (some may not have known what they look like), still wanting to hold your hand and be your friend. The innocence of these children considering some of their life situations is severely touching and heartfelt.
  
• On our last day at the settlements, we visited an area of the settlement where it was a mainly Congolese population. They were kind enough to let the International Medical Corps team, Genevieve, Brooke, and I participate in some of the skits the community leaders had put together to educate the community on sexual gender based violence, they also shared with us their song and dance. All I can say is that despite all the hardships life may have handed these women, men, and children….their spirit lives strong! It was a true privilege to get a glance at what life must have been like for these people before they were forced out of their homes by war. I say this because in this small community they had been resourceful and recreated some of their instruments from available materials and together played music, sang, and DANCED! They can still smile and celebrate being alive….it was incredibly admirable. To see people with so little, having been through some very awful life circumstances, joined together as a new community and making the most of what they had.

I could write pages and pages more, as it was truly a remarkable experience to visit these refugee settlements. More importantly it confirmed that any support this campaign brings in, can and will have an impact in an individual’s life. If you can even touch the life of one person, then in my mind it was all worth it.

My week with these refugees and International Medical Corps was a whirlwind and I never expected how emotionally draining it might be. The hardest part again was meeting the survivors and not being able to immediately help them. I had never spoken or met a rape survivor before…what do you say to this woman or girl to bring comfort? How can you provide a sense of security? How can you ensure they receive the appropriate medical care in a timely fashion? These are all things International Medical Corps addresses on a daily basis and from everyone we met in Uganda….they all confirmed they are doing an amazing job!! It is incredibly hard work, especially with limited resources. Yet they are getting the job done daily!

I hope you will join me in supporting International Medical Corps’ efforts, because their work does save lives and is helping a population that has been neglected! These are amazing women and children, like our mothers, our sisters, our friends. They deserve a chance at health and happiness...wouldn’t you agree??!!

These women and children are my endless source of inspiration as is the International Medical Corp team. Anything I can do to continue to support them, I will and hope you will too!!

All the best to you all and thanks for your continued support!! Donate now if you can :)

Georgina

Climb Take Action on AOL

Read a little more about our cause on AOL's That's Fit :)


http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/03/09/fit-philanthropy-climb-for-congo/


Spring is here and soon to be summer...so time for the next climb for International Medical Corps and women in the Congo and Uganda. Denali is up next! More to be posted soon.

Leave May 17th for Alaska...seems just around the corner! Life since Aconcagua has been hectic with relocating to San Francisco, prepping for the upcoming climb, fundraising, and starting to organize some additional fundraising events for the Fall! Between now and then I will be in San Francisco, Denver, Portland, Sao Paulo-Brazil, San Diego, New York, Atlanta, and maybe Arkansas! This is when life as a management consultant makes training a challenge...so I will be on the hunt for hotel gyms or good running trails to stay fit until my departure.

Thank you all for your continued support for this cause! Every little bit of help has a tremendous impact on the women and children we are trying to support!

Lots of Love!

G

Aconcagua...A Great Challenge!!

Where to begin on this incredible journey of 3 weeks? For starters, it was a lot tougher than I thought and if I never have to climb on scree (lose rock and gravel) again. . . I will be a very happy girl! Yet, the climb allowed me to push myself physically and mentally to a new limit and continue to work towards a cause very dear to my heart. . . .the women and children of the Congo and nearby Uganda.

As you know I continue to raise funds and awareness for International Medical Corps that is working hard to make their lives a little better on a daily basis. I recognize there are many humanitarian needs in the world, yet in case you are unaware, the sexual violence in the Congo, an area plagued by civil conflict for over a decade, has been deemed the worst in the world by John Holmes, UN Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs. In some areas of the Congo, ¾ of the women population have been raped, with victims ranging from 11 months old to 75+ years old…unimaginable offenses against women and girls have been committed. These climbs are for them in hopes of having a positive impact in their lives, as no woman or child should have to undergo such atrocities. We really need your support and hope you will visit us at: http://www.climbtakeaction.com/DonateNow.html


A little about the mountain….


When I think of Aconcagua a few words come to mind. . . SCREE. . .WIND. . .ROCK. . . .TOUGH. . .but reaching the summit on January 10, 2010 was an uplifting moment and one I will never forget :)


This mountain definitely kicked my butt!


Aconcagua, which translates as "Stone Sentinel" is 22,840 ft, making it the highest mountain in the Americas and the highest mountain outside of Asia. This spectacular mountain is surrounded by numerous peaks over 20,000 ft. and the surrounding lowlands (up to 13,000 ft.) consist of beautiful desert landscapes with a large diversity of flora and fauna. We went up via the Polish Variation Route on the East side of the mountain because it sees one fifth the amount of climbers (1,000 vs. 5,000 yearly) and is a much more aesthetic approach. . .it goes through Vacas Valley.






CLIMB HIGHLIGHTS...in no particular order :)

• Conquering my hardest physical challenge to date


• Being able to stand atop South America and experiencing some incredible views


• Meeting other amazing adventurers and making new friends and getting to spend time with old ones.


• Not feeling alone on summit day. . .I really felt the presence of my loved ones with me that day (hard to explain, but an awesome feeling!)


• Being a little bit closer to reaching my goal of the 7 summits…just 3 more to go (Denali, Vinson, and Everest)!!


• Visiting beautiful Mendoza and Santiago and enjoying some delicious wines (I love S. America. .can’t wait to go back!)
  
  
  CLIMB CHALLENGES
  


• Tent living for 14 nights at various elevations…not to mention no shower… that’s tough on a girl. . .lol


• Trying to sleep at 20,000 feet for 2 nights. . not likely… lucky if we got 2 hours


• Carrying a 50lbs backpack whose frame is too big for you! The 50lbs is bad enough!


• Trying to climb up with severe winds (40+ mph- made me stumble a bit) and sleep when winds hit about 80 mph (thx God our tent held up!)


• Keeping up team morale. . . this is a tough climb and at some points people were just NOT having fun. . .we all had to work hard to keep spirits up at times


• Catching a cold at 13,800 feet with a fever. . .had to stay in the tent one day to recoup


• Climbing up SCREE!! I think the whole team agrees . . we hate scree!!


• Trying to pee in a Nalgene bottle every night-talk about precision! (had several negotiations with myself trying to convince myself I did not have to go!! Lol) That said making yourself drink a liter of water before bedtime...knowing you will just have to get up more frequently is also a challenge!!


• Forcing yourself to eat when you’re not hungry. . .I tend to lose my appetite at high altitude. . .thx goodness for those GU packs! Instant calories :)
  
  
  WHAT GOT ME UP THE MOUNTAIN
  


• Prayers…lots of them! Along with my prayers, thank you to my friends and family for their prayers too.


• I am hard headed. . .lol. . .I told myself I would get up that mountain unless weather or my health got in the way. . .luckily both cooperated with me. I am a firm believer that climbing is 80% mental and 20% physical when it boils down to it.


• Moral support of my friends and family and my good friend Jason on the mountain. . .it was great having a friend to climb with and give me that boost when I needed it.


• My iPod- thx to my “Fun Dance Mix”!! . . . .that worked wonders on summit day (I was only able to use it 2 days cuz the battery went dead)!! It really made all the difference in the world-this was the first time I ever climbed with an iPod. (it was a wide range of upbeat dance music from hip-hop to electronica to top 40 to worldly lounge mixes to some classics like ABBA and Cher. . lol. . .and everything in between )


• My journal. . .a little red book titled “Keep Calm & Carry On” to vent to and share my inner most thoughts when I needed to


• Our trusty guides!! Thanks JP and Seth from Alpine Ascents


• GU!! Yes, I love Gu packs, although most I climb with tend to hate them. One Gu pack an hour on summit day does the trick!
  
  
  LESSONS LEARNED
  


• Your backpack needs to be your best friend, not your worst enemy. ..I will be trading in my Denali Pro pack, the frame is still much too big. . . although I already knew that from previous climbs. . . was trying to save on the climbing gear by not getting a new pack. . BAD move!!


• Test all of your equipment . . .all of it!!


• You cannot train enough! My training regimen will be much more disciplined for Denali. . which is coming up in MAY! Many have asked what I did to train for this climb: Cardio 1 hour at least 3-5 times a week (running outdoors as much as possible); hit the trails as much as I could, but honestly with my work/travel schedule it was nearly impossible; stairs with a weighted pack when possible or stairmill at the gym with a weighted pack; weights and core strength training (I hired a trainer 2 months before the climb).
  o What I would do different: Train with my actual backpack as often as possible; do more core training; hit the trails more (was just tough with work this go around)


• Something that was reinforced: The climb is just as much mental if not more than physical…it’s a matter of willpower and determination


• Bring antibiotics…just in case! Thx goodness Jason had some when I got a fever!!


• Bring yummy snacks. . . your favorite candy , goodies, etc (Starbursts and Gobstoppers saved my life)
• One foot in front of the other. . .that’s what gets you to the summit. . .one step at a time.
  
  
  Thanks to: Jason, Carina, Brendan, Adam, Davis, JP, and Seth for an amazing climb!!!!
  
  LOOK FOR A FULL TRIP REPORT ON CLIMBING.COM. . .Coming soon and I will post a link for you all.
  
  Please continue to support our efforts! Every dollar has a tremendous impact on a life….
  http://www.climbtakeaction.com/DonateNow.html
  
  How Your Donation Will Help Women & Children:
  
  International Medical Corps (IMC) provides life-saving services for displaced women and children in the DRC and neighboring Uganda, including: emergency medical treatment and physician training, counseling to help heal deep psychological wounds, and economic opportunities to help promote self-sufficiency.
  
  International Medical Corps also teaches new mothers feeding practices, provides immunizations, monitors growth, and prevents and treat the three big child-killers – acute respiratory infections, malaria and diarrhea.Please read how an International Medical Corps medical camp is helping Maria, a woman victimized in the DRC, and her child.
  
  Your donation is tax-deductible, totally secure, and will go directly to this cause. Please forward this link to others so we can help save more women and children’s lives!
  
  
  Thank you again for all of your support!!
  
  
  Georgina
  
  http://www.climbtakeaction.com/DonateNow.html

Ashley Chapman Summits Kilimanjaro January 2010!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ASHLEY CHAPMAN!!

Ashley reached the summit of Kilimanjaro in January on behalf of International Medical Corps and Climb Take Action to help women and children in the Congo and Uganda.

We are so grateful to Ashley to taking on this personal challenge for our cause!! Her bravery and dedication are truly inspiring!! She has already raised over $4000 and still going....help her reach her goal of $5000 :)

You can still sponsor Ashley by visiting https://www.imcworldwide.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=981

I encourage anyone reading this to feature your next challenge for our cause and help us raise funds and awareness for a group of women and children living in one of the world's cruelest conflict zones. Take action today and make an impact on a life :)

International Medical Corps continues to provide life saving support on a daily basis.

Way to go Ashley and a HUGE THANK YOU!!! You ROCK!

Hugs to all-

Georgina

Reached the Summit of Aconcagua!!!

Views of Aconcagua on the Trek in!

Summit Shot! Aconcagua 6962 M JAN 10, 2010

Summit Shot!! WWW.CLIMBTAKEACTION.COM

Hello Friends!!

Happy New Year to you all! I reached the summit of Aconcagua on January 10, 2010! I promise to post more details of the climb and journey shortly.

I got back to the States on Jan. 18 and was on a plane the next day for a work assignment in Mexico City and am still here at the moment. . thus life has been a bit crazy to say the least.

Aconcagua was an amazing experience and challenge on many levels and I promise to share more with you all.

For now here are some picutres and remember this climb was to support International Medical Corps and their programs for women and children in the Congo and Uganda.

I recognize there are many humanitarian needs in the world, but the in the case of the Congo, it was been deemed to have the worst sexual violence in the world by John Holmes, UN Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs. I had the opportunity to meet many women survivors living in a refugee settlement in Uganda supported by International Medical Corps this summer and all I can tell you is that these women and children truly need our help. They have undergone horrific experiences most of us could never imagine. These women continue to be my source of inspiration, as they are resilient, strong, brave, and trying to make the most of what life has given them. I will be sharing more details on my visit to this settlement in a future post.

I hope you will support me in my efforts and help these women and children, please visit:

https://www.imcworldwide.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=625

How Your Donation Will Help Women & Children:

International Medical Corps provides life-saving services for displaced women and children in the DRC and neighboring Uganda, including: emergency medical treatment and physician training, counseling to help heal deep psychological wounds, and economic opportunities to help promote self-sufficiency.

International Medical Corps also teaches new mothers feeding practices, provides immunizations, monitors growth, and prevents and treat the three big child-killers – acute respiratory infections, malaria and diarrhea.

Thank you for all of your support, encouragement, and prayers while on the mountain, it really meant so much to me....will be in touch soon!

Much Love,

Georgina

Happy Holidays!! Next Stop Aconcagua!

Happy Holidays from Climb Take Action!

Wishing you and your loved ones Happy Holidays!!! Thank you so so much for all of your support for Climb Take Action this year and our efforts to support International Medical Corps and their work to help women and children in the Congo and Uganda.

2009 was an exciting year for us, as our team of 9 successfully summited Mt. Kilimanjaro in July and raised over $30,000 for International Medical Corps. 3 of us (Genevieve Roth, Brooke Warburton, and I) were then blessed with the opportunity to visit the Refugee Settlements in Uganda and able to meet not only the amazing women and children we support, but also the dedicated International Medical Corps staff that is making a significant impact in the lives of thousands of women and children at these settlements on a daily basis. We also have some outstanding supporters that have decided to dedicate their next challenge to Climb Take Action for 2010 and support our efforts- we are thrilled and so grateful!! We were also featured in various media publications, thus helping us in our mission to educate others on the conflict occurring and the aid needed.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been engulfed by conflict for over a decade and remains one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. It is home to the most horrific cases of sexual and gender-based violence.

How Your Support Will Help Women & Children:

International Medical Corps (IMC) provides life-saving services for displaced women and children in the DRC and neighboring Uganda, including: emergency medical treatment and physician training, counseling to help heal deep psychological wounds, and economic opportunities to help promote self-sufficiency.International Medical Corps also teaches new mothers feeding practices, provides immunizations, monitors growth, and prevents and treat the three big child-killers – acute respiratory infections, malaria and diarrhea.

I hope you will support my efforts going into 2010, as I head of to Climb Aconcagua for International Medical Corps and Women and Children in the Congo and Uganda: Dec 27-Jan18. Aconcagua, which translates as "Stone Sentinel" is 22,840 ft, making it the highest mountain in the Americas and the highest mountain outside of Asia- one of the World’s 7 Summits and my fourth to date of the 7….3 more to go.

These women and children continue to be my source of inspiration.

Please visit us at: http://www.climbtakeaction.com/ or my blog: http://www.georginamiranda.blogspot.com/

Much Love and Happy Holidays,
Georgina

Special Thanks to the Kilimanjaro Team! Hector Miranda, Corina Quinones, Martin Zeeman, Melanie O’Toole, Genevieve Roth, Brooke Warburton, Sergio Milan, and Steve Prentice