 |
| Screenshots from promotional video |
Inspiring 2007 expedition by ten Aussie and American women to climb three of Africa's highest mountains - Mount Kenya, Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro - in the space of three weeks on behalf of three charities. The women's exertions, which is the subject of an hour long film, raised a staggering 375,000 Australian dollars for the Laikipia Wildlife Forum, Tanzania's School of St. Jude and a HIV/AIDS mobile testing programme. The professionally-shot film, available on DVD, captures both the drama of the landscape and the camaraderie and charisma of the trekkers. Sequences filmed in St. Jude's rudimentary classrooms, the homes of ostracised HIV sufferers and a luscious wildlife reserve also explain vividly why the money raised is needed. Shown earlier this month at London's venerable National Geographical Society, the film suffers slightly from the cheesy American voice over and some viewers will want more factual information about the mountains themselves. Two further all-women expeditions are planned for 2009 and 2010. The 3 Peaks 3 Weeks concept is an emotive wake-up-call for all those hand-wringing Westerners who think they are powerless in the face of Africa's many woes. 8/10
