Sibusiso Vilane is leading the Trek4Mandela expedition up Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for girls' education and sanitary towels across Africa.
The initiative addresses period poverty, a systemic barrier that often forces girls to miss school during menstruation. By securing funding for sanitary products, the campaign seeks to ensure that biological needs do not impede academic progress for vulnerable students.
Organized under the Imbumba Foundation, the 2026 [1] climb takes place in Tanzania. The expedition focuses on the intersection of health and education, targeting the lack of affordable menstrual hygiene products in underserved regions. This effort is part of broader activities associated with Mandela Month, utilizing the visibility of the climb to draw attention to the challenges faced by African girls.
Vilane leads the team as they navigate the ascent of the continent's highest peak. The funds raised through the trek are earmarked for the distribution of sanitary towels, and the support of educational infrastructure. The project operates on the premise that providing basic hygiene is a fundamental step toward gender equality in schooling.
Because period poverty can lead to high dropout rates, the Imbumba Foundation emphasizes that the provision of sanitary towels is a direct investment in a girl's future. The trek serves as both a fundraising mechanism and a public awareness campaign to destigmatize menstruation in various communities across the continent.
“The expedition focuses on the intersection of health and education”
This expedition highlights the persistent link between public health infrastructure and educational attainment in Africa. By framing period poverty as a barrier to education, the Imbumba Foundation is leveraging high-profile athletic feats to secure the tangible resources necessary to keep girls in the classroom.
