Mountaineer Monde Sitole is taking on Everest without bottled oxygen to help raise funds to build a primary school for girls, in the Eastern Cape.
Monde Sitole has climbed some of the greatest and most treacherous mountains in the world. The South African mountaineer has had a passion for climbing since he left school. Monde was invited to join the Mike Horn Young Explorers Camp in India, Switzerland and Germany which developed his love of climbing.
He then returned back to South Africa with an ambition to make a difference for young girls in rural Eastern Cape. His first goal was to climb every major mountain on each continent and then use that as a catalyst to improve lives.
“I conceptualized my very own expedition ‘dare to dream’ to climb all highest peaks on each continent which I succeeded with Kilimanjaro 3 times, Elbrus in Russia which is highest in Europe and Denali highest in North America in Alaska. I’m now taking on Everest without bottled oxygen to raise funds to build all girls primary in Lady Frere in Eastern Cape I’ve secured land already (sic)”
He is planning to raise R1 million to help build the school. Aside from his philanthropic endevours, Monde also guides the youth on climbs around South Africa. His passion to spread a love of climbing is so great that along with his Everest climb, three young women will be joining in on a Kilimanjaro climb as well.
He has been training them to know all the safety procedures, how to survive on the mountain by cooking and knowing their equipment. Before the young women head off in July, they will be doing one last practice climb in the Drakensberg.
The reason Monde will be doing the Everest climb without bottled oxygen is that he wants to honour the art of alpine climbing. By doing this, he shows his respect for the mountain.
You can find out more about Monde and his organisation on their website here.
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