MINISTER of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Coordination and Parliament) Jenista Mhagama, has extolled two pupils, Abel Mussa and Rebecca Damian for their successful ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro through the GGML KiliChallenge-2023 campaign.
During the commemoration of the Heroes Day in Dodoma recently, the minister noted that the children impressed her with their idea that they were symbolising the significant work being carried by President Samia Suluhu Hassan in protecting children’s rights, welfare and steering the nation to the climax.
She added: “They highlighted that their determination was sheer reflection of the work of the government led by President Samia to raise primary and secondary education, build infrastructures, universities and healthcare facilities as tall as Mt Kilimanjaro for the betterment of all Tanzanian children.”
Ms Mhagama further said that apart from the children motivating the government to work towards supporting the fight against HIV/AIDS through the KiliChallenge-2023 campaign, the gesture was instilling a sense of patriotism in their peers to help the young generation understand the importance of loving the country.
The children Mussa and Damian all under the care of the Heart of Mercy Centre (an orphanage centre), established and funded by Geita Gold Mining Limited (GGML), were among 61 participants who completed Mt Kilimanjaro climb from July 14 to July 20, 2023 in support of a drive to raise funds for the country’s HIV/AIDS fight.
In particular, Damian a pupil at Kivukoni Primary School in Geita Region successfully reached the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro and it was unfortunate that her counterpart, Mussa, a pupil at Mbugani Primary School in the same area contracted malaria and had to halt.
This year’s campaign, initiated by GGML in collaboration with the Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS) in 2002, involved 35 mountain climbers and 26 cyclists who circled Mount Kilimanjaro over a period of seven days.
On July 20, 2023, when the participants returned, Ms Mhagama instructed the Deputy Secretary-General in the ministry to ensure that the pupils were enlisted in the records of the attendees for the Heroes Day celebrations.
