World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

The team gets ready to depart from Machame Gate on Thursday 28 February. The climbers include seven women from Nepal who are attempting to climb the seven summits and who started with Mt Everest in 2008; WFP South Africa’s National Ambassador Against Hunger Hlubi Mboya; Anna Indaya, Tanzanian national, teacher and member of the Hadzabe tribe; and Ashura Kayupayupa, Dar es Salaam youth activist.

Day two. The team hikes from Machame Hut at 2900m to Shira Hut at an elevation of 3800m.

Sunrise over Mt Kilimanjaro on the morning of day three at Shira Hut. Days typically started around 6am, followed by 6-9 hours of hiking.

Former WFP school meals beneficiary and member of the Nepali climbing team Nimdoma Sherpa. At age 17, Nimdoma became the youngest female to ever summit Mt Everest, a record she held until May 2012. As a child in Nepal, her parents sent her to school just to get the WFP school meals. It was due to this, she says, that she “learned to love school and studying.”

WFP South Africa’s National Ambassador Against Hunger Hlubi Mboya takes a well-earned break on day four.

A small film crew accompanied the team to document the climb.

The journey to the summit began at 11pm in below-freezing temperatures. Climber Pujan Acharya navigates with the light of her head torch.

Approximately 8 hours after setting off, the team reaches the summit at Uhuru Peak. For the seven Nepali women, this marked number four out of seven summits reached. Tanzanian climbers Anna and Ashura were exhausted but proud they made it to the peak.

The group on the final morning before descending to Mweke Gate. From left to right: Chunu Shrestha, Anna Philipo Indaya, Asha Kumari Singh, Pem Diki Sherpa, Ashura Kayupayupa, Pujan Acharya, Shailee Basnet, Hlubi Mboya, Maya Gurung, Neema Sitta (WFP Dodoma), and Nimdoma Sherpa.