National Champ Set to Summit Kilimanjaro in Peace Corps Climb

For the past two years, Beverly Menghetti '07 has served in the Peace Corps as a science and mathematics teacher at an all-girls government boarding school in southern Tanzania. Besides teaching in the classroom, she and other Tanzanian teachers facilitate a peer educator health club at the school. Now the former Diplomat laxer, who was a member of F&M's first national championship team as a senior, is set to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro with a group of students.

The club is composed of bright, motivated, and determined young women from various sections of Tanzania who are dedicated to counseling and teaching their peers about making safe decisions on issues ranging from healthy relationships to preventing HIV/AIDS. It is well known that empowering young women is the best way give them confidence to stand up for themselves to make healthy life decisions.  This is done by focusing on issues and exercises related to gaining self-esteem such as running races and role-playing. Menghetti would like to add the feat of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Mt. Kilimanjaro is the largest freestanding mountain in the world, peaking at 5,896 meters. Many students do not normally get to see, let alone climb this mountain of which their country is so proud. Not only is climbing the mountain an excellent experience for the students, but they will also get to see other parts of the country that they may otherwise never visit. Although Tanzania is a small country, there are many different cultures as well as socio-economic situations, to which the students will be exposed. In addition, this will be an incredible learning experience. Menghetti and her peers will study biodiversity and environmental changes on the mountain, the effects of tourism on the surrounding areas, and pressure change vs. altitude as they trek higher.  

Menghetti, together with another Peace Corps volunteer, two Tanzanian teachers and a total of 16 students from two different schools will attempt to climb Kilimanjaro in November 2009. The group is seeking modest support in accomplishing this feat, which will without a doubt rock the spirits of Tanzania’s future leaders. The expenses covering the trip will amount to about $3,200.00 for the girls group alone, and will help to cover transportation, food, equipment, park fees, lodging and any unforeseen expenses. Any extra money will all go towards supplies for the schools.

To make a donation, go to http://kiliclimb09.chipin.com/kili-climb-09 . Click on the orange CHIPIN button on the right hand side of the website and fill in the information.

If you would prefer to make a contribution by check, please mail the check to  Beverly Menghetti and send it to:

KILICLIMB ‘09
c/o Paula Menghetti
1579 Middletown Rd
Glen Mills PA 19342

Additional questions can be directed to Beverly Menghetti at bmenghetti@gmail.com