FOUR men from Mahwelereng in Mokopane, Limpopo prepar to cycle to Mount Kilimanjaro in a bid to raise funds for projects aimed at helping local youngsters.
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Johannes Tjotjo, Rasetobole Moloto, Sello Kutumela and Keletso Kopa plan to cycle from Mahwelereng through Botswana, Zambia and Tanzania before climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
The group is expecting to cover about 4 000km and is appealing to businesses and members of the public to sponsor their journey.
Rasetobole said the challenge was about more than reaching the top of the mountain. They want to raise money to develop their community centre and create more opportunities for young people.
He said they started Distinctions Pathways Organisation Community Development Centre after noticing that many young people in their community were unemployed and needed opportunities to gain skills.
The centre is currently running a horticulture learnership programme, where young people are learning about growing and caring for plants.
Rasetobole said they also took over an abandoned school building and fixed it using their own money and whatever funds they could raise.
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They now want to expand the centre by starting a poultry project and creating a community sports complex.
The planned sports complex would include a soccer field, swimming pool, changing rooms and facilities for netball, volleyball and basketball.
Rasetobole said young people, especially pupils, needed more places where they could take part in sport and other activities.
He said they also hoped to provide computers at the centre so pupils could apply for further studies and unemployed people could get help with their CVs.
“We have many plans, but we need support to make them happen,” he said.
Rasetobole said they approached several people and businesses for help but had not received the support they needed.
The four cyclists are now hoping that their Kilimanjaro challenge will help them raise the money needed to turn their plans into reality.
They appeal to anyone who can help with sponsorship or other support to come forward.
