A Pan-European Call to Generosity

17 Jun, 2010, Brussels

TEAM OF C&W MEMBERS CLIMBS THE KILIMANJARO FOR
“SCHOOLS AROUND THE WORLD”

A team of 15 C&W professionals will soon take the challenge of climbing the Kilimanjaro. Their goal is double: promote and fund “Schools around the world”, the charity created by former CEO of C&W John Travers.

15 participants, 2 challenges
On the one hand, 15 C&W professionals coming from 10 different countries across Europe will participate to an expedition to the top of the Kilimanjaro in early August. Culminating at 5,895m, covered with ice and snow, the Kilimanjaro is the highest summit on the African continent. The completion of the expedition will take about 10 days. The participants will follow the Lemosho Glades Route, a distant, solitary and quite exhausting road, which will make it easier for them to progressively acclimate to the heights. The expedition will be supervised by the British climber Rhys Jones, who reached Mount Everest’s top on his 20th birthday and holds a world record as youngest “Seven Summiteer” (having indeed climbed the seven highest continental summits).

In addition to this, each participant will take responsibility in the collection of funds (+/- 100,000 euros) helping SATW to make the difference in the everyday life of unfortunate children.

Our country will be represented by Gregory Lamarche. Not only does Gregory follow an intense and thorough physical and mental training; he’s also fully involved in the collection of donations which will bring additional support to the SATW project aiming at the construction of schools in Tanzania (see here below). A.S. Adventure has already sponsored Gregory through the provision of the necessary equipment implied by such an expedition.

Harry Farthing, Managing Partner for C&W Italy will share his knowledge as an experienced climber by leading the expedition. Liz Bunce, Partner and Head of HR EMEA along with Simon O’Reilly, Partner and Head of Client Solutions, will also join in this extreme physical challenge.

Boris van Haare Heijmeijer, Partner at C&W and member of the SATW board, comments: “It is brilliant to see how our professionals support our charity. The fact our people spend their own time and money in this project, demonstrates that solidarity did not totally disappear from this world. This expedition involves a great deal of preparation, and I’m delighted to see they fully devote themselves to it”.

Schools Around the World
“Schools Around the World” (SATW) is a non-profit organisation and a registered charity founded in 2005 by the late John Travers, former CEO for the EMEA region at C&W. SATW is seeking to widen the horizons and expectations of young people between 11 and 25 whose perspectives are being limited by their family situation, or social and financial injustices. The prime target of SATW is the help less fortunate children to develop their personal potential and professional awareness. These goals are reached through:
- cultural and social journeys in their countries of origin, or abroad;
- internships, workshops (resume writing, interview conduction, etc.) and work experiences developing their professional awareness (at C&W or one of its clients);
- physical challenges and activities stimulating the development of team spirit.
Of course, all these activities are organised by C&W professionals.

SATW only relies on donations. Every year, a percentage of C&W’s benefits goes directly to the fund. Contributions also come from C&W employees, and external donators.

SATW in Europe
John Travers founded SATW after a first charity project with the Lilian Baylis Technology School (LBTS) in Lambeth, one of London’s poorest quarters. This was the first school to be adopted by SATW and to benefit ever since from its continuous support. Since 2005, 12 organisations and schools followed, in Poland, Hungary, Russia, Turkey, Romania, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. In addition to this, a series of successful programs and cultural experiences were launched, aiming to help pupils during their education or their preparation to professional life, as to develop their general development and learning abilities.

Along with those adopted schools, SATW launched punctual initiatives, among with the construction, by volunteers, of a Music Therapy Room in the Cottolengo orphanage in Italy, for children with a heavy handicap. For some of them, music is their strongest link to life.

SATW in Belgium
The Belgian headquarter of C&W has a partnership with the Athénée Royal d’Ixelles. On a regular basis, sportive, cultural or professional initiatives are being taken in order to raise funds or to concretely help the students in their studies or in their job search.

School project in Tanzania
John Travers’ dream was to build a school in Africa someday. His dream has now become reality with the construction of a boarding school in Miona, Bagamoya district, Tanzania. Structures for education are very limited in the country, as the government only has poor means to develop them. Even the existing schools are often in bad condition.

Boris van Haare Heijmeijer and Jennie Travers, widow of John, are leading the project, and settled in October 2009 the necessary contacts with local authorities, helped in their endeavour by Simon Uforosia Mlay, Ambassador of Tanzania in Brussels, and also responsible for the country’s relations with Benelux and Europe.

In the meantime, construction works have already started. A 12-classsroom school (each classroom designed to welcome about 30 students of the 5th and 6th years of high school) is being built on a 40 ha piece of land. In addition to the classrooms, 3 labs, a library, a computer room, a dormitory, a dinner hall with kitchens, a first-aid room, and small residences for the teachers are on their way as well. The school will also foresee sportive facilities for football, basketball, handball, volleyball and netball.

How Can You Help?
SATW fully relies on donations. To sponsor this Kilimanjaro expedition and, through it, the SATW project in Tanzania, donations can be made on Gregory Lamarche’s website: http://gregeverydamnday.wordpress.com (or alternatively www.satwdonate.org).

SATW and Social Media
The expedition can be followed through the SATW Twitter account, or its Facebook page (SATW-Kilimanjaro 2010”. The physical preparations and collected funds are discussed by the participants on their respective blogs.
twitter.com/satwdonate
www.facebook.com – SATW – Kilimanjaro 2010
http://gregeverydamnday.wordpress.com/ blog of Belgian participant Gregory Lamarche.

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