Summit Kilimanjaro reaching 19,341’
and as an expedition team collectively sponsor 19 EFAC Scholars
- One for every 1,000 feet!
In 2025, join Education For All Children (EFAC) on a fundraising expedition up Africa’s highest mountain! EFAC is a holistic education-to-employment program supporting low income, high achieving Kenyan students through high school and post-secondary school and prepare them to enter the job market upon graduation.
The challenge of this expedition is increased with the goal of sponsoring Kenyan high school students selected for EFAC’s program, and the experience enhanced by connecting with the EFAC community. Let your inspiration to climb mountains positively impact others and learn about the surrounding culture and communities.
TRIP DETAILS:
This unique trip will create connections between the expedition teammates and many EFAC Scholars. Leading up to the trip, the climbers will be challenged to generate support for 19 high school scholarships and train for the mountain.
Once in Kenya, the group will meet some of the students and EFAC staff as well as take a student-led day hike. As your understanding of EFAC’s impact grows, we will head to Tanzania to climb Kilimanjaro, accompanied by two EFAC alumni. Together we will experience the wonders and challenges of climbing a big mountain.
Take action by being 1 of only 10 Kilimanjaro climbers to join this fundraising expedition! Your participation impacts the future of bright, young Kenyans and gives them a path out of poverty.
“What happens to the large number of young adults in Africa is the single biggest determinant of whether life on this planet keeps getting better.”
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This 10-day trip will take place the last 2 weeks of January 2025.
And two EFAC alumni will join on the Kilimanjaro climb!
-- Arrive in Nairobi, Kenya --
Day 1: Visit students in schools around Nairobi and meet with EFAC Kenya team
Day 2: Acclimatization hike in the Ngong Hills lead by EFAC Scholars
Day 3: Drive from Nairobi, Kenya to Arusha, Tanzania, about a 5-hour scenic drive
-- Kilimanjaro Expedition, Days 4-10 --
Climb Day 1: Start the Machame Route, a 6 night and 7 day climb up Kilimanjaro. Depart from the Machame Gate (5,900’) and walk through the forest to Machame Camp (9,800’).
Climb Day 2: Leave the forest behind as we trek across the Shira Plateau arriving at Shira Camp (12,600’).
Climb Day 3: An acclimatization day with an ascent up and over Lava Tower (15,000’) and then descend to Barranco Camp (12,950’): “climb high and sleep low.”
Climb Day 4: A short acclimatization day with the option to rest or do walks from camp at the Karanga Valley (13,000’).
Climb Day 5: A short steep day with time to rest at Barafu Camp (15,100’) before the final climb.
Climb Day 6: A midnight-wakeup starts summit day! A slow ascent through the dark and into sunrise brings you to Uhuru Peak (19,341’) and you’ve summited Kilimanjaro! Then begins the long descent to just above tree line and camp Mweka (10,200’).
Fun Fact: Uhuru means ‘Freedom’ in Swahili.Climb Day 7: Another long descent ending at the Mweka Gate (5,400’) with transportation to hot showers and a nice dinner to celebrate the journey!
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This trip is being run by Lisa Van Sciver, who is the daughter of EFAC’s founders and has been mountain guiding for 15 years. For the Kilimanjaro expedition portion of the trip, she will be using a local Tanzanian base guide service. The trip expenses and fundraising will be run through the organization Education For All Children.
ABOUT THE TRIP LEADER: LISA VAN SCIVER
The daughter of EFAC’s founders, Lisa Van Sciver was raised to follow her passions. She began climbing in high school, and once she completed college Lisa moved to the Tetons, where she still calls home. In the late 2000s, she started guiding mountains such as the Grand Teton and Denali, the highest mountain in North America. Lisa then spent the next 15 years developing her technical and risk management skills as a mountain guide and avalanche forecaster.
In the winter, Lisa worked at the Jackson Hole ski area as a ski patroller and avalanche forecaster before moving into a position with the Grand Teton National Park as the first GTNP snow ranger. In the snow ranger position, she wrote public avalanche forecasts for the Bridger Teton Avalanche Center. The other half of the year, she guides mountains and technical rock climbs across the western U.S. She has pursued certification with the American Mountain Guide Association completing both the Ski and Rock disciplines and continues on the Alpine track. Beyond all the experiences and credentials, Lisa treats every trip with respect and always strives to make the journey fun, safe, and adventurous.
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While Kilimanjaro is a non-technical climb, and climbers will only be carrying a daypack, there are still many advanced skills needed for this mountain. The skill of pacing one’s self is essential when climbing and acclimatizing at altitude.
Trip participants should be comfortable hiking 3,000+ feet for 4-8 hours several days in a row.
Individuals will also need good self-care, such as a way to maintain healthy feet, a plan for exposure to the elements, and the ability to stay well hydrated and fueled. Expeditions, especially at altitude, wear on the climbers both mentally and physically, so everyone is expected to show up fit and psyched!
For further questions, a fitness plan, or prep climbs, contact Lisa Van Sciver: climb@efac.org
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Fundraising Commitment:
To join this trip, there is a commitment to sponsor at least one student for their entire high school education at $4,000 for each participant. Although 1 student is the commitment, 2 students is the goal, and 3 students is the increased challenge. How impactful can you make your climb? Let’s Elevate Education and make the sky the limit - literally!Trip Cost:
The cost of the trip is $6,500 per person. This includes transportation, lodging, most meals, and the Kilimanjaro expedition.*Excludes: Airfare to and from Africa, travel insurance, and visas.
Sign up below for more information or questions regarding the trip!
With limited spots, don’t miss your chance for this trip of a lifetime!
SIGN UP FOR THE TRIP OR REQUEST MORE INFORMATION:
Student/Alumni Application
Current Form 4 EFAC Scholars (who will turn 18 before the climb) and EFAC Alumni are welcome to apply to join the trip. See email from the EFAC office for details.