EY Transaction Advisory Services (TAS) colleagues to “Hike for Heaven,” scaling Mt. Kilimanjaro to benefit education charity
A group of TAS colleagues are taking volunteering to new heights as they undertake a “Hike for Heaven” up Mt. Kilimanjaro to benefit a school for underprivileged children. They are even using their TAS skills to assist in the school’s expansion—all part of their EY-driven mission of building a better working world.
On 15 June, TAS Partners David Wells and Steve Stafford along with Senior Managers Steve Ho and David Doherty will embark on a weeklong climb of Africa's highest peak (19,341 feet). It’s part of Unite the World with Africa Foundation’s campaign to raise $100,000 to expand the Heaven School in rural northern Tanzania.
In Tanzania, the majority of the population earn less than $2 per day. Securing a high-quality, English-speaking education is often unobtainable, but the Heaven School—a private English-medium school that serves students ages 3–14 in 10 classrooms—is dedicated to teaching these children in need. Heaven was recently cited as a model English-medium school in the region.
The funds raised by our TAS colleagues’ climb will help expand the school’s capacity from 270 students to more than 500. This will allow the school to become financially self-sustaining, having a direct and positive impact on the lives of the orphans and children from surrounding rural villages. It will also provide much-needed employment for the community to serve as teachers, administrators and support staff.
Prior to the climb, David, David, Steve and Steve will spend time meeting with administrators at the Heaven School. There, they will help prepare a strategic plan for the expansion, along with budgets and tracking tools for the school's financial performance. Following their climb, the TAS colleagues’ commitment to the school will continue, through ongoing mentoring and checking in on progress and milestones achieved.
David Wells explained his motivation for undertaking this impressive endeavor. “Access to a quality education empowers people in countless ways—lifting economic standards, creating job opportunities, enhancing skills, fostering collaboration, celebrating our differences and, thereby, promoting peace,” he said. “My parents said to me that the best gift we give our children is a great education. With our Hike for Heaven, we give that gift, and all of its benefits and possibilities, to these children of Tanzania—providing all of us with the building blocks to a better working world.”
Steve Stafford further elaborated: “EY’s purpose of building a better working world has four pillars—sustainable growth, developing talent and leadership, collaboration, and trust and confidence. Our Hike for Heaven aligns perfectly with these core values. Unite the World with Africa Foundation’s efforts to provide education, healthcare and opportunities for at-risk women and children in Tanzania develops and inspires young minds, instilling trust and confidence in themselves and the broader world. Each member of our team is honored to assist and collaborate with Unite’s goal, and we are sure the people who benefit from the hike will contribute to a better working world in ways we can’t imagine today.”
If you would like to support our TAS colleagues’ monumental trek and learn more about their experience, please visit the Hike for Heaven homepage.
Unite the World with Africa Foundation is a 501c3 tax-exempt public charity. David Wells is the co-founder and treasurer of Unite, a 100% volunteer organization whose mission is to empower education, health, choice and dignity for impoverished communities across East Africa.
11 May 2017
