Intrepid takes stance on women’s rights

Intrepid Travel are set to lead over 30 women from across Africa to the peak of Kilimanjaro to highlight female land rights.

Led by Intrepid guides and in partnership with ActionAid, travellers will trek alongside these courageous African women in their plight as they fight for land rights and gender equality.

Women’s AFL players Katie Brennan of the Western Bulldogs and Melissa Hickey from the Melbourne Demons will also take part in the climb to throw their support toward gender equality.

To coincide with the UN International Day of Rural Women on October 15, the climbers will join over 250 African women at a mass assembly, where those involved will produce a charter of demands for equal land rights to be presented to the UN and the African Union. The climb and assembly comes during the African Union’s yearlong focus on the “Rights of Women” in 2016.

Malawi, Rumphi District, 25 August 2009. Gongona village. Thabu Chidimba is a smallholder farmer in the irrigated fields tended by the village women. She is part of Coalition of Womens Farmers which is part of the Womens Forum a project initiated by ActionAid. COWFA is funded by Irish Aid. Gongona is a child sponsorship DA. Im going to concentrate on making compost now because it helps me produce good results in fact 7.5 tonnes of maize, she said. At the far end of the field the women are creating a compost area with several piles fermenting nicely under plastic. The plot Thabu shares with the Coalition of Women Farmers, came from the local chief Evans Gongona, and theyve managed to irrigate the fields by building small channels and pumping water from the nearby river.

Malawi, Rumphi District, Gongona village. Thabu Chidimba is a smallholder farmer in the irrigated fields tended by the village women. She is part of Coalition of Womens Farmers which is part of the Womens Forum a project initiated by ActionAid.

According to Intrepid, in rural Africa smallholder farmers (the majority of whom are women) produce close to 80% of the continent’s food. From sowing, weeding and fertilizing, to processing and transporting, these women form the backbone of Africa’s food security and production industry. Despite their vital contribution, most African women lack secure rights to their land and any access is usually through a male relative.

“We are incredibly proud to be working with ActionAid to lead female farmers to the top of Mt Kilimanjaro, to create vital change in their lives, as we support gender equality and continue our commitment to having a purpose beyond profit,” Geoff Manchester, Co-founder of Intrepid Travel and Chairman of The Intrepid Foundation said.

ActionAid work toward helping women in rural Africa seek justice and fight for basic rights to give their families a chance for a secure future.

Intrepid Travel leads hundreds of travellers up Mt Kilimanjaro every year and provides fair working conditions to porters, often beyond government regulations, and employs locals from disadvantaged communities.

For more information visit: www.intrepidtravel.com/women-move-mountains

Advertise with us

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

ActionAid africa intrepid intrepid group intrepid travel Women's Rights