Corey Johnson wrote -

This December, I along with my close friends Parker and Angie will be attempting to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro (19,341 feet) in Tanzania. This is the highest point in Africa and one of the Seven Summits. One mountaineer friend of mine affectionately referred to his failed climb as “the worst experience of his life”. Another beamed, “Absolutely terrible, I thought I was going to have to cut my feat off”. Add these glowing reviews to the incredibly high failure rate due severe altitude sickness and you’ve got a recipe for a first rate good time.

Why are we choosing to spend our vacation doing this you might ask? At this point I no longer honestly have access to an answer to that question. My best guess is a substantial lack or forethought or some kind of misguided nostalgia for adventure. Either way the trip is booked and I’ll be damned if I’m not going to climb that mountain. Now I ask you to join in and help us turn our misadventure into some variety of benefit for the world.

At the beginning of 2012, Imagine Scholar will be selecting its 3rd class of students here in the Nkomazi. This is obviously a very exciting moment for the program, but it also comes with some additional costs. Our goal for the climb is to raise $3000. This will cover the first 6 months for the new class of students. Or another way of thinking of it is, 1-month of life changing education per day on the mountain. Not a bad trade!

**BONUS PRIZE**  Anyone to donate $33 or more gets a completely awesome random crafty nicknack from Tanzania!  Guaranteed top-level nicknack.    

**Update from Parker** Feel free to get a check to Parker and Angie if you would rather donate that way. You can send it to: 621 5th Ave N #304 Seattle, WA 98109. To send it directly: Imagine Scholar 8721 Santa Monica Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90069-4507. Imagine Scholar is a registered 501(c)3 organization. For more info contact Corey@imaginescholar.org.

Follow along as I offer daily updates on my rigorous mental and physical training regimen:

www.facebook.com/ImagineScholarSouthAFrica

www.twitter.com/ImagineScholar

To donate please go to:

www.crowdrise.com/SummitOfAfrica

More about Imagine Scholar:

Vision

Imagine Scholar provides unique, personalized education to promising youth in South Africa’s disadvantaged Nkomazi region.  We strive to effect profound change on individual lives and empower the next generation of African leaders through creative, multidimensional development.  Imagine Scholar aspires not to help students merely get by, but to give them the tools to be the difference makers of their generation and bring lasting change to their communities.

Structure

Imagine Scholar’s primary program is the Imagine Academy, an intensive four-year mentorship program for select secondary school students.  Students attend class at the Imagine Academy twice a week after school.  We also offer academic assistance and personal support outside of class to ensure that students have every opportunity to excel.  The Imagine Academy welcomed its first class of five students in July 2010 and accepted its second class of ten 9th graders in March 2011.  Going forward, we will admit ten 9th graders each year, building to a total enrollment of 40 scholars preparing for professional achievement and success in the wider world.  We envision a network of current and former Imagine Scholars fostering each other’s growth and acting as inspirational examples for the community.

Website: www.ImagineScholar.org