Shaiza’s fundraiser

London-based City Year Mentor Shaiza is taking on a brave challenge for a fantastic cause. This summer she’ll be raising money for the charity Dig Deep by climbing Africa’s largest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro.

As a charity, our values are defined and reflected by the mentality and aspirations of our mentors. Specifically, those values permeate through their leadership mentality and their aspiration to make a change for good. While they spend their time with us making that change in the classroom, with the young people they work with, we encourage them to seek to make a difference whatever the circumstance. City Year Mentor Shaiza has displayed that ethos to the fullest extent, by challenging herself to climb Mount Kilimanjaro this summer to raise money for a cause close to her heart. 

Shaiza will be donating the money she raises from the climb to the charity Dig Deep, which is trying to provide clean water, safe toilets, and good hygiene in Bomet County, Kenya (one of the most challenging and least resourced areas in the country). Shaiza has set a courageous goal of raising £2950, of which she’ll be donating 50% to Dig Deep. 

This has been a long aspiration of Shaiza, showing her deep-rooted determination and resilient motivation. It’s a personal goal she set herself before even starting university and City Year UK, as she emphasises in this quote about her motivations:

“This climb has always been on my bucket list to do before I finish university. I started to do research into it when I was around 16 years old and happened upon this charity at a university fair a couple of years ago. I find this cause extremely important as it can help change so many lives for the better. I also learned from talking to them that they will help fund my climb while I raise awareness and money for the cause. I found this to be a very meaningful and unique way to do the trek.”

Shaiza’s bold aspiration and determination to help make a change, has really left us feeling inspired. She really encompasses what it means to be a leader at City Year UK and we couldn’t be more proud of her efforts. If you wish to donate to her fundraiser, you can do so here.