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Climb for Leaders is the most challenging leadership development that a North American senior high school student can undertake.

Our role is to help schools offer a comprehensive international leadership expedition that they might otherwise not be able to provide or sustain, because of the complexities of arranging and managing such a tough, challenging program. With our help, it becomes very feasible to offer this exciting challenge to students year after year.

Students, teachers and parents consistently tell us that students who undertake these small group challenges develop:

1. Excellent team-building skills (as students quickly learn that unless they work closely together, they will never succeed in their challenge);
2. Much greater focus, discipline and organizational skills (as they juggle fund-raising, training, school work and normal other extracurricular activities);
3. Outstanding communication skills (as they communicate within and outside the school);
4. Exceptional fund-raising and team skills (as students work closely together on a group fund-raising target).

What does each challenge involve?

1. Writing a thoughtful essay on the development challenges in the area students will be visiting;
2. Intensive, months-long physical training for the tough treks (where safety is a priority);
3. Fund-raising to support projects in the developing world;
4. A tough physical challenge that pushes them to their limits (e.g. climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, one of the Seven Peaks; or trekking in Nepal; or trekking in the Peruvian Andes);
5. Community service in the developing world, in conditions far different than they are accustomed to in North America;
6. Selecting one environmental project to which 5-10% of funds raised will be channelled;
7. Learning about entrepreneurship and contributing to micro-finance loans to help alleviate poverty (see www.Kiva.org/about).

These activities, each of which is geared towards stretching students to their limits, often far beyond what they thought was possible, results in developing terrific confidence and a much enhanced ability to tackle challenges that students will face at university and in life.

In addition, students gain firsthand knowledge of some of the challenges of the developing world in a meaningful manner through deep local exposure, and most importantly, they learn that they each CAN make a difference in the world.

Furthermore, the school can choose to involve many more students, in the same or lower grades, through participating in the Kiva loans program, where students get to learn firsthand about how a small contribution can play a huge role in alleviating poverty and creating self-sufficiency.

Students, teachers and parents describe the expeditions as life changing. We agree: that is our aim!

The Climb for Leaders challenges also help develop leaders in the developing world as most funds are directed towards educational projects that are highly sustainable. It is our firm belief that access to good education is often the only way out of deep-rooted poverty.

Our goal, by 2020, is to raise $1 million in support of development initiatives, through climbs on three continents: Africa (Tanzania), South America (Ecuador and Peru), and Asia (Nepal and Vietnam). Schools we work with have already raised $500,000 over the last three years, and developed many student leaders!

Is your school ready to take up this challenge, and develop outstanding leaders?

To find out if your school would meet the criteria for being considered, please contact:

Narmin K. Ismail
Climb for Leaders
416-383-1300 x 4
narmin@climbforleaders.com
www.climbforleaders.com

PS: We are very aware that safety is a key consideration for schools. We agree completely! We have recently met requirements for the highly demanding BS 8848 expedition standard, and are pleased to share our learnings with you: simply go here to access the 49 Steps to a Great School Expedition video presentation and transcript.