Welcome the AYCC 2013 Everest team! This September, 35 young people will depart to hike to Everest base camp!
But why?
In 2009 at the UN climate negotiations in Copenhagen we met a young guy from Nepal called Avi. His story blew us away. Avi had so many questions: he wanted to know everything about the AYCC. At the time we weren’t sure whether he thought we were insane to start the AYCC from scratch – but a year later we attended the UN climate talks in Mexico, and we saw Avi again. He told us that after he attended our workshop, he had gone home and started Nepal Youth for Climate Action. In just one year, they had started a schools program, taken key Government Ministers on a trek to see melting glaciers first hand, and helped to start youth climate coalitions in Bhutan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
His amazing story left us speechless.
Avi went on to work for the Himalayan Climate Initiative (HCI) – running projects to make a tangible difference in people’s lives and reduce the impacts of climate change in fragile Nepal. Over the years, we’ve kept in touch, and we always thought there must be a way for the AYCC and HCI to work together. That’s why this September, AYCC will send 35 young people to Nepal to work with HCI on education and adaptation projects and they’ll trek to Everest Base Camp: a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Whilst in Nepal the AYCC will work with HCI on a project called ‘Hamri Bahini’ meaning Green Angels. A green social enterprise project which teaches local and rural women the skills needed to sustain their own green business. The project will assist women to make and distribute cloth and paper shopping bags to help eradicate the use of plastic bags in the region – a big contributor to the current litter issues. Through capacity building and gradual handover the project will create a self-sustained cooperative over three years creating over 200 new jobs for women. The money raised from this adventure will go to both HCI and AYCC so we can continue our campaigns and projects and truly build a strong, global youth climate movement. So far our incredible teams have raised $15,000 for our movement.
Meet the team members from expedition 1 and 2.
Our top 5 fundraisers so far are:
1. Hannah Morrice $2800: Hannah is fresh out of uni this year, and busting to get out into the world and contribute to change. People describe her as fun, outgoing, honest and caring. She wants to visit Everest so that she can come back and show leaders that this natural ecosystem is worth protecting. Go Hannah!
2. Max Smith $1,980: Max is determined to make a difference and be part of a movement driving the solutions on climate change. A long time member of the AYCC, Max had been to Qatar with our International team to the UN climate talks and volunteered on many of our key projects. Amazing work Max!
3.Malika Kirchner $1955: Malika is a volunteer with AYCC here in Victoria and has been involved for about a year now. She’s really excited about the challenge and adventure that goes with this expedition and is looking forward to working with and supporting the Nepal team with the great work they are doing in Nepal.
4. Chris Allan $1361: Chris Allan is an AYCC from Victoria. Passionate about making a difference, adventure and challenging himself he’s joining the AYCC Everest Team. Go Chris!
5. Morgan Hubbard $1300: Morgan is a dedicated AYCC Canberra volunteer. She says that the AYCC isn’t about just telling you about the problem but about generating the opportunities for change. You’re a rockstar Morgan! Great work!