Hyderabad boy conquers Mt Kilimanjaro

“The instant I set foot on the summit, my joy knew no bounds. The dream I had nurtured for several months and all the sweat and tears I had put forth into this project were worth it,” says a beaming youngster William Joseph who scaled 19,336ft of Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa recently.

A Class 9 student of Indus International School, Joseph along with another boy from city Jayant Buddole, was part of a team of 13 members who went on the summit. Joseph who aspires to be a marine biologist feels that this experience has taught him the right mindset to overcome challenges in life.

“Leaders emerge in times of challenges, chaos and confusion, they shine in times of tests and tribulations” says Captain Mohit, the expedition-in-charge. Mohit is also a trainer at the Indus School of Leadership, an in-house training institute of Indus International School.

Meanwhile, Buddole reached the summit camp at 16,141ft. “I am very happy with his (Joseph’s) achievement,” he says. “Yet, I felt a sense of regret that I could not summit the peak. I had come so near. And yet was so far,” adds Buddole whose aspires to summit the peak again next year.

The ten-day expedition, ‘Peak to Lead’, was conducted from September 24. The first night halt was at Mandara Hut (2,725m) amid a rich rain forest followed by a two-night rest and acclimatisation at Horombu hut (3,780m) nestled in grasslands.

Later, the team moved to Kibo Hut (4,730m) through alpine deserts and after a rest for few hours they left towards the final lap of their journey. The last lap of 6km was a steep climb, which challenged climbers both physically and psychologically.

After a spirited struggle for upto seven hours, the young team finally conquered the peak, which is located on the rim of a dormant volcano with breath-taking views of the crater in the centre and huge glaciers on the periphery.

The climb was completed in about five days; the team of youngsters endured climatic fluctuations, sub-zero temperatures, and altitude sickness. “In such an environment students become more self-reliant and independent in the process, because in the wilderness, you don’t have any gadgets or any tools, the environment pushes you to help yourself,” opines Mohit.

Says Carol, Principal, Indus International School, Hyderabad, “By providing our students with such opportunities, we seek to inspire and motivate them to face challenging situations in life. By facing these challenging situations students develop leadership competencies which equips them to address life’s challenges.”