Skip to main content

FAISR Virtual Kilimanjaro Expedition 2020

Mon May 18 - Thu August 13 New York, NY 10128 US
Slideshow Image Slideshow Image Slideshow Image Slideshow Image
FAISR Virtual Kilimanjaro Global Stay Healthy Event

Sami Diamond's Kili Climb
Sami's Bat Mitzvah Project

Fundraiser Login
Donate

HELP ME MAKE MASOUD’S DREAM COME TRUE

Hi! I'm Sami and I'm 11 years old. Last year my parents went to Tanzania, and they haven't stopped talking about it since. One of the places that most impacted them was Shanga, a workshop and community which employs people with disabilities to create unique, high-quality, handmade jewelry, housegoods, and glassware from recycled materials.  The motto at Shanga  is “ability over disability” and when I saw photos of the people with different abilities making gorgeous blown glass, and heard about the people who worked there, I thought it was so special. My parents even bought us a kiddush cup made there!

Soon after my parents came home, they shared their story with Jamie, the Managing Director of Friends of Access Israel (‘FAISR’) who was on his way to Tanzania with 27 trekkers with different abilities to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro (last February they became the largest delegation of climbers with disabilities to conquer the highest mountain in Africa!!). My parents made several suggestions to Jamie, including a must visit to Shanga.  

Following their accomplishment they took my parents advice and stopped at Shanga - and it was a stop that Jamie said was one of the most inspiring and emotional parts of their trip.  At Shanga, the team met a man named Masoud, whose siblings are guides on Mount Kilimanjaro.  Masoud, who is in his 30's, shared that as a little person, he has been bullied his entire life and because of his disability most people laughed at the idea of him climbing Kili, even though it was a lifelong dream of his.  Then the coolest thing happened - FAISR invited him to join them on their next trek up Kilimanjaro. (This was supposed to happen this August, but was postponed to January 2021).  And because FAISR's goal is accessibility, they will be with him every step of the way. 

So what does Shanga, FAISR and Masoud, have to do with my bat mitzvah project?  

As I become a bat mitzvah, I want Masoud’s dream of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to come true and also help FAISR teach the world that everything is #AccessibleTogether.

Watching his siblings and friends climb Kilimanjaro (which is basically his backyard), has been so hard for him, but he is now counting down the days to January 2021 when Masoud will be able to accomplish his dream. 

So where do I come in? I live too far away to climb Kilimanjaro, so I decided to do this VIRTUAL TREK! Everyday for the next few weeks I will be biking, walking, and running for at least 24 miles (which is the distance from the base to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro).   Across the world, Masoud is doing the same thing in Arusha, Tanzania as he trains for the real climb.  His first day of training he walked a 10K in the rain! 

Through FAISR and Shanga, I will be  Zoom-Paling (the 2020 version of pen-paling) with Masoud every few weeks, so we can share our virtual expedition experiences and learn a little about each other.   

Thank you in advance for supporting my virtual run so that I can make Masoud’s dream come true and so that we can show the world, that we can make anything #AccessibleTogether, even Mount Kilimanjaro.

I believe that anyone, even people with disabilities, can accomplish their dreams. And I'm really proud to help raise money for Massoud to accomplish his. I hope you'll donate to my practice climb here, and cheer Massoud on with me as he summits this winter. 

Thank you! 

 

ABOUT FAISR
Friends of Access Israel (FAISR) is committed to the acceleration of the removal of actual and perceived barriers for people with disabilities and the elderly. Through education, advocacy, travel, and technology, our efforts are to foster an equitable environment where all people are valued, respected, and supported for the vast abilities they have.

Top Donors

$2,275 Raised By 46 Donors

$100 in support of Alexis Berkowitz
$100 on behalf of Amy Tucker
$100 on behalf of Geri Schlenoff
$100 on behalf of Rebecca Gilad
$100 on behalf of Rena Garshowitz
$100 in honor of Sami - mazel tov! Love, Andy, Lisa, Kira, Kayla & Mason
$100 in support of Sami and Masoud
$100 in honor of Sami's upcoming Bat Mitzvah
$100 in honor of Samikins you are an amazing kid..
$54 on behalf of Genna Singer
$50 on behalf of Amy, Jeffrey, Julian & Wesley Mason
$50 in memory of Armin H Klein
$50 on behalf of Aunt Lara Diamond
$50 on behalf of Dena and Ami Marizan
$50 on behalf of Diamond cousins
$50 on behalf of Julie Kaplan
$50 on behalf of Manny and Lynda Greenberg
$50 from Anonymous
$50 on behalf of Nikki Shapiro
$50 on behalf of Robin Siegel
$50 in support of Sami Diamond & Massoud
$50 in honor of Sami Diamond's Amazing Work!
$50 in honor of The B'nei Levi community of Arusha
$50 on behalf of The Stiefel Family
$50 on behalf of The Wittenbergs
$50 in memory of Your great Bubby and Pop Pop who had to walk up the alps to find a home.
$36 on behalf of Barry and Judi Kenter
$36 on behalf of Estyn Becker
$36 on behalf of Hannah Loffman
$36 on behalf of Robyn Schneider
$36 in honor of Sami and her efforts on behalf of Masoud!
$36 in honor of Sami Diamond!
$36 in honor of Sami Diamond's Bat Mitzvah
$36 in memory of Stevan Levy
$25 on behalf of Aviva Breda
$25 on behalf of Linda and Jimmy Joshowitz
$25 on behalf of Rena and Avi Goldin
$20 on behalf of Danielle Benson
$20 on behalf of Sara B
$18 on behalf of Adina Rudin
$18 in support of Sami and Masoud’s journey!
$18 in support of Sami's Bat Mitzvah
$18 on behalf of Shani Farkas
$18 on behalf of Temimah Zucker
$18 on behalf of Tova Lynch
$10 from Anonymous

If you continue to use this site, you consent to use all cookies. We use cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. Read how we use cookies and how you can control them by visiting our Privacy Policy.

If you continue to use this site, you consent to use all cookies.