Cochrane High’s Savanna Koebisch is planning to tackle Mount Kilimanjaro this summer.

But climbing the tallest mountain in Africa at 19,341 feet isn’t enough for this Gr. 9 go-getter because she also plans to raise a dollar for every foot she climbs.

She is calling her goal “One foot at a time,” and the money will go to a charity in Africa.

“I want to get in shape after the Christmas season is over,” she laughed.

Her love for Africa started years ago on three separate family trips to the impoverished country.

“We went into the wildest parts of Africa . . . where tourists never go,” she said.

Koebisch said Africa is beautiful, but hard to describe.

“It’s a magical place,” she said.

She vividly remembers young African kids chasing behind their van, and while they had nothing they seemed happy.

But she saw how years of civil war and poverty was effecting the country in the impoverished villages and meeting the young orphans.

“I always wanted to support something in Africa, but I never found the right cause,” she said.

She didn’t find anything until she attended a chiropractic conference with her dad in Montreal. That’s when she met Sister Brigette Yengo.

Sister Yengo was speaking at a Women’s Leadership seminar within the conference about her work back in the dangerous Republic of Congo.

She runs a orphanage for roughly 50 children located in the north of the capital city of Brazzaville.

The country has been torn apart by a five-year civil war and the effects of the AIDS epidemic.

Out of a population of 3.5 million, there is an estimated 100,000 orphans in the Congo.

Many children and adults also lose their sight and use of their limbs to disease.

But Sister Yengo —  a nun, chiropractor, and medical doctor — has set up a bush clinic to treat those that can’t get help anywhere else.

As Koebisch listened to the tragic stories Sister Yengo had to share she felt compelled to do something about it.

“She definitely displays leadership in the women’s world,” she said, adding one of Sister Yengo’s favourite quotes is, “they’ve shot me twice but they haven’t got me yet.”

After speaking with Sister Yengo, Koebisch decided to get involved.

“She is a very interesting character,” said Koebisch. “A very strong personality.”

Koebisch was motivated to help keep the kids happy by helping to raise money for food, shelter, medicine and safety.

Koebisch said her intent isn’t to change Africa, because she believes their culture, history and beliefs are so amazing.
But she wants to help them get on their feet.

She would like to help Sister Yengo build  a school for the orphanage.

On Dec. 12, with help from the Cochrane Youth Association, Koebisch organized an evening of local artists to raise money for the cause at Java Jamboree.

She raised $320 through donations, and by selling her handmade beeswax candles.

“It was very successful,” she said.

She has also struck up some other fundraising initiatives, such as barb wire Christmas wreaths.

In total so far she has raised $2,800 since spring 2009.

She hopes to raise the $19,341 for every foot of Mount Kilimanjaro by Gr. 12.

Koebisch said she also hopes to convince her parents to go visit Sister Yengo, but since the Congo is so unstable she is not sure if that will happen.

For now she is in constant contact with Sister Yengo through e-mail — or whenever Sister Yengo’s electricity works — as they both strive to make things better for 50 kids in the Congo.

Koebisch said that with Christmas — the season of giving — upon us, that if anyone would like to share their good fortune with kids who truly need it contact her at skoebisch@gmail.com.

She is going to continue to sell her candles. She will even be switching the colours for the seasons: Christmas, Valentines, etc. Right now candles can even be purchased at Java  Jamboree

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