Africa is a continent which evokes images of wild animals, great tribes, fierce weather and beautiful landscapes. This was the backdrop against which I began a trek to climb its tallest mountain: Mount Kilimanjaro.

A group photo a few days into the trek up Mount Kilimanjaro

Kilimanjaro is an inactive volcano in north-east Tanzania, East Africa. It rises to a staggering 5,892 m providing dramatic views of the surrounding plains and nearby Mount Meru.

As well as the promise of challenge and adventure, one of the principal drivers pushing forward my desire to travel to Africa was to raise money for The Citizens Foundation charity. TCF was started 14 years ago to address the problem of illiteracy in Pakistan, with a special emphasis on the schooling of young girls. The foundation establishes schools in urban slums and poor rural villages where the need is most dire and where most children would otherwise not receive an education.

With my challenge defined, the charity chosen and the trek date set for October 2009, I proceeded to mass e-mail friends, colleagues and family for money. I asked, begged and persuaded. I even received donations from people I didn’t know but who were moved by the work of TCF. To date I have raised £2,165.

Our group who trekked up the mountain was mainly composed of Pakistanis, but other nationalities were also present supporting the charity’s good work: Austrian, English, Chinese and of course, the token Iranian — me.

They say the best way to know people is through travel, and 10 days of continuous climbing though rough terrain really sorts out the good from the bad and ugly. There were those who maintained quiet resilience throughout, then there were the jokers and the moaners, and of course no group would be complete without the singers and chatter boxes. The eclectic mix of people proved to be essential for enjoying the arduous seven to nine hour daily treks.

The terrain on the mountain is as varied as the people who climb her. Lush jungle quickly turns to a rocky, moss covered expanse only to be followed by vast swathes of empty, desolate plains of rocky nothingness.

Summit day began at 12 am, and with only three hours of sleep to keep us going, we were expected to reach the roof of Africa some 7 to 10 hours later. My own journey towards the sky came to an end on that day — at 3 am, at a height of 4,900 m with five more hours climbing to go, I surrendered to altitude sickness and blurred vision, and through the disappointment, bitter wind and cold, slowly made my way back down to camp.

Not conquering Kilimanjaro was a great life lesson for me. Men and women like to break and tame — we like to think we are the ultimate controllers. But occasionally, we are humbled into nothingness. Sometimes, the universe decides to teach us a painful lesson in humility, respect and submission.

Hiking above the clouds

Hiking above clouds, being so close to the sky so as to almost touch the billions of bright specks, being at the mercy of the rawness of cold wind, dust and rock — there is no crueler nor kinder instructor than nature. Yes, humans are amazing, we profess that we can do anything, and we do. We are the entrusted ones, the chosen and the blessed. But we are also the helpless, insignificant and proud. We forget that sometimes.

Many climb mountains, risking their lives doing so. But there is an even greater struggle we must face — for there is no climb more arduous than the one to get to the summit inside. The real men and women conquer that which is within. True, it is a one man battle. But just like climbing the physical pile of rock and snow, it is impossible to succeed in this mission without help from guides to shine the way, porters to lighten the load on your back, friends to sing you through the struggle and hard times and a little faith. We are in this together, and there is no shame in asking for help in this life. Indeed only the truly brave acknowledge this.

Many asked and continue to question why I chose a charity were the beneficiaries are Pakistani. I have heard many objections and criticisms that Pakistan is home to fighters and terrorists, and that I should be supporting “my own kind”.

To this, I can only say that as far as my research has gone the charity is sincere and transparent in its aims and financial dealings. But there is an issue more deep seated than that of financial credibility. Unfortunately, there is an unspoken feeling of superiority amongst some Muslims when it comes to their brethren. An invisible prejudice that cuts through the brotherhood we speak of, that rips apart the image of the Zoroastrian Salman-e Farsi and the black African Bilal al-Habeshi who the Prophet (pbuh) welcomed as equals. Skin colour, culture, religion even, is incidental. Humanity transcends everything.

Overall our group raised over £70,000 for TCF to build and maintain schools in Pakistan, a place which is in need of educating its young if it has any chance of combating the violence and bloodshed it has encountered. The money raised will go to help shed a little light into the darkness of ignorance that engulfs so many in this world. I pray some of the rays enter our own lives too, for ignorance comes in so many different shapes and forms.

Find out more about The Citizens Foundation charity at: www.ftcf.org.uk

You can still donate to Leila’s fundraising campaign at: www.justgiving.com/leilataheri

Credits: Photography by Rameez Kaleem.