Aiming to raise 30.000 euros for the "1 million children"
How did you decide to go to the Himalayas, in order to inform and raise money for the non-profit organization "1 million children";
Last January I was approached to create "1 million children", of which I am currently the managing director. It is an international, non-profit organization that aims to help at least one million children out of the more than 25 million children who do not have access - most of them refugees from Syria - to education. The "1 million children" supports in turn non-governmental organizations that have developed training programs helping these children. My passion is to help children, which is why I accepted without a second thought. My second passion is mountaineering. So, I thought of combining my two passions, mountaineering in the Himalayas, in order to wake up and inform the world, in order to raise money for this very important purpose.
I took it for granted that you are involved in mountaineering, otherwise someone with no experience should try to climb the Himalayas.
I'm a little crazy the truth is (laughs), but I love mountaineering. That's why when I thought of this idea, I contacted an excellent Swedish explorer, Johan Ernst Nilson, who holds - if I'm not mistaken - 8 world records. He was the one who composed the team - which will consist of ten people from Cyprus, Sweden, Germany, America and England - choosing each one very carefully. I am the only one from Cyprus and I do not know anyone from the rest of the team. But I know that everything is perfectly organized, because at the end of the day it is still a dangerous mountaineering, at high altitude. Our mission starts on September 20 and will last 10 days, during which we will do mountaineering 6-8 hours daily.
Apart from the widespread excitement, I suppose you are already scared, since this is the first time you will be climbing at such an altitude?
Of course I am afraid, because it is very difficult what we will try as a team. But that's exactly the challenge. To overcome and overcome any of your personal phobias.
Most people are sensitive to children, but on the other hand we live in a time when more than 25 million children cannot go to school because of the war. Does this infuriate you, as a mother and as a human being?
It really annoys me, but at the same time it makes me sad and scared. If you think about it, none of us would be what we are today if we did not go to school. For us, it is self-evident and given. But not for these children. According to the United Nations, all children have the right to education. The majority of these 25 million children do not go to school because of the war in Syria. And this is just the official number, because in fact they may be much more. This fact also scares me. It may scare other people besides me. And fear is very dangerous, because it can lead to conflicts. That's why I think what we are trying to do is wonderful. We fight our personal fears and at the same time awaken the rest of the world, calling on it to overcome its own fears. Just let him know that there is an organization out there trying to help these children, which in turn can help. Instead of sitting on his couch, judging and regretting the situation, he can help by giving a small amount. It is so simple. Together we can make a difference.
Could you ever imagine that we would be facing such a great humanitarian crisis in modern history?
Never. Instead of making progress, we take steps backwards. With all those crazy movies we watched in the '90s, I believed that technology in the future would be an integral part of our lives. Something that is true. But, each of us is so focused on technology, that we forget that we should
to learn the basics first. And that's what we need to teach our children, to respect and communicate with those around them. To say: "hello" and "thank you"! So many simple things, but we forget to teach them.
How can one contribute to his purpose "1 million children";
We started one crowdfunding campaign, in order to raise 30.000 euros, over a period of one month. For us, every contribution, even the smallest, is of paramount importance. Part of this money will be distributed to the 3 non-governmental organizations we work with this year, the metaDRASI in Greece, the MECI Jordan in Jordan and Maya Vakfi in Turkey, to strengthen their training programs for refugee children, while we will leave an amount for the needs of "1 million children" so that we can expand our activities as an organization, helping as many children as possible.
Assume that the expenses for the trip to the Himalayas are personal?
Although it was not a negligible amount, I preferred to pay my own expenses, because I do not want to deprive the children who need them. For me, this journey will also contribute to my personal development as a person, so I see it as a form of investment in myself. What matters is that we all unite together to face the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time, because we must not forget that it does not take much to make a child happy!
Photos: Marios Iosifidis
Source: ant1iwo.com