• "I love you Lulu! So proud of you..."

    – Andrea C.

  • "Mazel Tov on your Bat Mitzvah and always reach!"

    – Ellen S.

  • "Best of luck Lulu from Enjoy team! Very inspiring!"

    – Enjoy Education Team

  • "Climb hard so they study hard!!!"

    – Slavo M.

  • "All roads lead to Uhuru Peak."

    – Ronit T.

  • "I believe in you! You have the strength & determination!"

    – Ivy K.

  • "Though you are but one, you have the strength of many, Lulu!"

    – Grace A.

  • "Go, Lulu! You can do it :D"

    – Joshua R.

  • "Courage and positive mind with get you to the top!"

    – Eleanor M.

  • "Have fun! See you next year!"

    – McKenna

  • "Lidunenko moje, dávej na sebe pozor!"

    – Ludmila A.

  • "I love Hekima Place, Kate and all their works!"

    – Linda M.

  • "What an inspiring endeavor!"

    – Nicole H.

  • "You go girl! If you can dream it you can do it! "

    – Ann Larson .

  • "Great job Lulu. I wish you success."

    – Kaushik I.

  • "May the force be with you!"

    – Sandie A.

  • "You can do it Lulu! I believe in you."

    – George K.

  • "I am so impressed! Kol hakavod! Yesher koach!"

    – Janet B.

  • "Go Lulu, go!"

    – Sandy S.

  • "What you’re doing is so amazing!! Keep it up you WILL get there!!!"

    – Kristen C.

  • "Up and forward!"

    – Maxmilian R.

  • "Lulu - remember: reaching the summit is half-way!"

    – Geoff R.

  • "You can do it, Lulu :D"

    – Joshua R.

  • "You really are an inspiration! Mazel Tov!"

    – Hart W.

  • "Lulu, what you’re doing is amazing and so inspiring! You’re amazing!"

    – Lucy K.

  • "Lulu keep soaring."

    – Carrie Zaracotas K.

  • "Well done summit Kilimanjaro!!!!"

    – Exploradus - Jim W.

  • "Lulu, Good luck on your trip! I support your cause!"

    – A Nueva S.

  • "Good luck Lulu! And I hope U make it."

    – Aaron H.

  • "Breathe easy. Much love to you and your mom. "

    – Nancy F.

  • "Good cause! Good luck raising the money. It is possible!"

    – Madeline C.

  • "You got this, Lulu!"

    – Sasha G.

  • "Go Lulu!"

    – Shen H.

  • "Sy says - good luck! Mom says - amazing work!"

    – Karina A.

  • "Držíme palce, Liduško! Velká výzva a vznešený cíl!"

    – The Vraný Family

  • "BIG hugs and BRAVO for this meaningful challenge."

    – Jaxon (and his parents) J.

  • "Go go Lulu!"

    – Alaina S.

  • "Good Luck"

    – Reese G.

  • "Go Lulu Go!"

    – Jacob N.

  • "You go girl! Love you & those Hekima girls!"

    – Michelle S.

  • "Good Luck!"

    – The Orr Family

  • "GOOD LUCK !! :)"

    – Anya M.

  • "祝你好运家希!"

    – Reese G.

  • "Great Job!!!"

    – Mirabelle H.

  • "Thank you for your inspiration to ALL!"

    – Courtney E.

  • "Good luck climbing Kili!!!"

    – The Rezneck Family

  • "All of Newbury is rooting for you!"

    – Janette W.

  • "Good Luck!!! :-) so happy for you."

    – Mark L.

  • "Admire your courage!"

    – Alan B.

  • "Keep on Climbing!"

    – Carolyn G.

  • "Go, go Lulu!"

    – Rai Sue S.

  • "There are tears of happiness before the rainbow."

    – Brynn S.

  • "I would never have the courage to do that! Nice!"

    – Marcus H.

  • "Good luck, Lulu!!!"

    – Steven Chanan .

  • "Good Luck Lulu! "

    – Jessica L.

  • "Lulu, you can do it!"

    – Joe S.

  • "Good Luck!"

    – Adam N.

  • "You have this one!"

    – Philip W.

  • "Well done L, nice job."

    – Milo L.

  • "I am so proud of you! Keep me informed about your adventure!"

    – Melia K.

  • "You go Lulu! Love you tons!"

    – Laura T.

  • "Your own encouragement comes only from within...."

    – Linda B.

  • "I believe in you and your mission Lulu! "

    – Amy B.

  • "Užij si to, Liduško! Budeme na tebe myslet!"

    – Jan V.

  • "Go Lulu all the way!"

    – Diane R.

  • "Good luck climbing Mount Kilimanjaro:)"

    – Joshua R.

  • "We are SOOO very proud of you! YOU CAN DO THIS!!!"

    – Lisa R.

  • "Wonderful achievement! We are so proud of you!"

    – Edward N.

  • "Your character and noble purpose will enable you."

    – Rabbi Yeshaia Charles F.

  • "Lulu - what an impressive endeavor! Best of luck!"

    – Jennifer P.

  • "Go, Lulu, go!!"

    – The Levanon Family

  • "Hello Lulu!!!"

    – Michal S.

  • "You got this Lulu!"

    – Sam P.

  • "Thank you for being such a bright light for us!"

    – Hekima Sisters

  • "Happiest of birthdays on the summit, Lulu!"

    – The Amato-Maa Family

  • "Sending positive thoughts and prayers. Good luck!"

    – Kathleen Z.

  • "Good luck Lulu!"

    – Adam K.

  • "是的你可以!"

    – Juan L.

  • "Cannot wait to take my first selfie ever of us at the summit!"

    – Dominika B.

  • "You rock! I am so proud of you, and best wishes!"

    – Abby M.

  • "We are very proud of you. "

    – Jemma S.

  • "You are amazing! And inspiring! Keep it up, girl!"

    – Natasha & Brent W.

  • "What an awesome act of love. Best of luck. "

    – Nancy F.

  • "In honor of your Bat Mitzvah, reach for the summit"

    – Ellen S.

  • "You--and your project--are amazing!"

    – Joanne D.

  • "Yay Lulu! You can do it! :)"

    – Santi C.

  • "Ain`t no mountain high enough for you."

    – Patti L.

  • "Good luck!!! :)"

    – Owen Y.

  • "Good luck Lulu!"

    – The Levy Family

  • "Si sue pueda!"

    – Grady L.

  • "You go girl!"

    – Brian H.

  • "You can do it!"

    – Charlie B.

  • "Good luck, Lulu!"

    – Milo K.

  • "Good luck, dear Lulu!"

    – The Elias-Merriman Family

  • "It's really cool what you are doing!"

    – Ivy K.

  • "One step at a time..."

    – Rosa H.

  • "This is an awesome initiative. Good luck!"

    – Adora C.

  • "Good luck with this amazing challenge, Lulu."

    – Charlotte C.

  • "This is so inspiring and heartwarming! Great job!"

    – Jordan D.

  • "Lulu I am so proud of you! What an amazing person you have become!"

    – Laura T.

  • "Hi Lulu, please keep up the stupendous work!"

    – Anthony B.

  • "Adventure! Run the last few steps."

    – Dan H.

  • "Kol hakavod Lulu! I hope you have a safe journey!"

    – Talia P.

  • "Dearest Lu, what a brave and clever girl you are!"

    – Kate F.

  • "Ahoj statečná Lulu! Super nápad!!!!"

    – Ann K.

  • "Your advisory will be rooting for you! "

    – Veronica G.

  • "You can do it!!!"

    – Valentina M.

  • "Good luck Lulu! :)"

    – Rohan K.

Would I climb Kilimanjaro, if I could not tell anyone about it?

People tell tales about 'That one time when I was on Kilimanjaro…', but that is not why I want to climb this impressive mountain. The reason that I am climbing Kilimanjaro is not so I can run back home and tell everyone that I did, but because I want to raise awareness of the needs of my Hekima 'sisters', who live in all-girls orphanage in Kenya. Climbing Kilimanjaro, the world's 4th highest mountain, will help to raise awareness about the issue of girls’ education in Kenya.

I want to inspire my Hekima 'sisters' to think beyond their limits. I want for them to have what I have at home - people who love and believe in them, to have the opportunity to go to school and to be able to stay at school until they have learned all they crave to learn. So that they can become who they want to be, not what someone tells them they should be. I want to show them that when we, girls, put our minds to something, we can do anything, even if our society doesn’t believe it. To do this, I decided to challenge myself in their own backyard.

I have set myself this ambitious goal, which pushes me to train. Training means pushing myself beyond my comfort zone, until my feet ache and I am out of breath. Training means getting outside and immersing myself into beautiful nature. Training means changing my mindset, allowing myself to believe in my own abilities.

This December I am getting to the Uhuru Peak on Mount Kilimanjaro - 19,341 feet high, 50% less oxygen than at home! I see myself at the summit and my Hekima 'sisters' going all the way to university!

I want love, confidence and education for my Hekima 'sisters'.

My Hekima 'sisters' were orphaned by HIV/AIDS, forced into servitude, and came from the street. Yet, they wake up with a smile and open arms for love. I bring them love. I have spent my school breaks with them since I was 6 years old - we get up to a lot. We play together, read books and work in their farm. Last year my mom and I built a playhouse for the younger girls, I helped to deliver a cow - which was then named Lulu after me - I organized an olympic games complete with a celebratory bonfire and s’mores...

Besides inspiring confidence, I am climbing Kilimanjaro to raise funds. Educating an orphan girl in Kenya costs money, which I do not yet earn. In California, girls are told that they can be whomever they want to be. Help me spread this beyond California. Alongside other volunteers I bring love and by summiting Kilimanjaro I will show them girls’ power. But I want to do more. With your help I can send them to school and keep them in school.

You are probably asking yourself why sponsor me instead of other causes? There are many charities that help children in Africa: book drives, AIDS charities and water charities. However this orphanage is a place that I have a personal connection to. I am your guarantee that your donations will reach those you chose to help. Once I have summited Kilimanjaro, I will personally deliver your donations to the hands of Kate Fletcher, the founder of Hekima Place. All the money you give will go to the education of my Hekima 'sisters', because my mom will match your donations up to the cost of the expedition.

Interested in learning more about me? These are my other projects:

My other projects

When I get up into the cold and darkness to start the final ascent, when I am slipping on the steep gravel path during the 12 hours long climb, knowing that you are cheering me on will help me keep going. Your donation will help drive me to the summit and my Hekima 'sisters' to school.

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Do not have money, but like to support my fundraiser? Leave an inspiring note for me and share my website with your friends.

Original artwork by Ludmila Nell. Website designed by Michal Sloboda