Mt. Everest 2005: Sibusiso Vilane Summits Everest and works for good causes

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Sibusiso Vilane: After becoming the first black African to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 2003, Sibusiso Vilane took on the world’s tallest mountain peak for the second time to raise funds for Southern African charities. He climbed with fellow South African Alex Harris and world-renowned explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes. Vilane and Harris left Johannesburg on the 24th March for the Himalayas via London and reached the summit again in June. The expedition was in aid of charities such as the Birth to Twenty Research Programme at Wits University, the Africa Foundation and the SOS Children's Village in Swaziland. Other sponsors of his include; Anglo American, Cape Union Mart and Batsalani.

Birth to Twenty: Bt20 is representative of children living in Johannesburg-Soweto over time - children that grow up in homes of clapboard and zinc, a curtained area in an inner city high rise, a newly acquired home in Eldorado Park, or an elite townhouse in Hyde Park. The overarching vision of Bt20 is to understand the holistic determination of child and adolescent health and development within Johannesburg-Soweto. This complex study continually impacts on current thinking about youth, and is committed to scientific research that makes a difference. The study documents and explores the socio-economic, socio-political, demographic and nutrition transition that is underway within South Africa and its impact on children and their families.

Africa Foundation: Africa Foundation is an independent registered non-profit organisation in South Africa and has Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) status. They have allied tax-exempt organisations in the United Kingdom (Africa Foundation – United Kingdom) and the United States of America (Friends of Africa Foundation). They are governed by an independent Board of Trustees, and have been audited annually by KPMG since their inception in 1992. Africa Foundation’s primary focus is on Education, Health Care and Income-Generating Activities.

SOS Children’s Village (Swaziland): The official go-ahead for the work of SOS Children's Villages in Swaziland came in December 1986 after the signing of a government agreement between SOS-Kinderdorf International and the Kingdom of Swaziland. On 17 August 1987 the local SOS Children's Village Association "SOS Children's Villages Swaziland" was registered and construction of the first SOS Children's Village in Mbabane, the capital city of Swaziland, began in the following autumn. In the years to come additional SOS Children's Village Facilities were established in Mbabane and in Nhlangano in the south of the country.

The most prominent supporter of the SOS Children's Village work in Swaziland is King Mswati III, who in 1998 took over the official patronage for all SOS Children's Village Facilities in his country.

At present there are two SOS Children's Villages, one SOS Youth Facility, two SOS Kindergartens, two SOS Hermann Gmeiner Schools, one SOS Social Centre and two SOS Medical Centres in Swaziland.

Background

 In 2003 Vilane, a 34-year-old game ranger, father of three and native of South Africa and Swazi, became the first black man to summit Mount Everest. The goal of Vilane’s climb this year is to raise money for three children's charities: The Birth to Twenty Research Programme at Wits University, the Africa Foundation and the SOS Children's Village in Swaziland. Vilane will be climbing with South African Alex Harris and world-renowned explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes. When Vilane returns from his climb he hopes to be more involved in public speaking—specifically to motivate and inspire children.

Undaunted by a full day in Everest’s “death zone” Vilane was reported still elated by his experiences atop Everest when he touched down at London’s Heathrow Airport. He spent some time resting in Britain before returning to a hero’s welcome in South Africa

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