Saray Khumalo reach Mount Everest summit for 2019, become first Black African woman wey do am. Nelson Mandela Foundation celebrate the achievement for statement on 29 May that year. Im own account identify the successful climb as im fourth attempt.
Khumalo na South African wey dem born for Zambia. Im personal story connect childhood for Zambia and Zaire with later corporate career for South Africa. That background give the achievement wider African geography than only the nationality wey person see beside name for summit list.
Im climbing don already support charity work. Mandela Foundation record say im Everest attempt for 2014 raise money for Lunch Box Fund, organisation wey help children access food. Expedition wey no reach final climbing target still fit get another public purpose and useful outcome.
For 2015, im climbing support Mandela Library project for Thembisa, Johannesburg. Connection with books matter because education dey return inside im stated ambition. The mountain give platform for fundraising; e no be the only destination of the whole effort.
Khumalo describe im Seven Summits goal as way to encourage African girls pursue ambitions for education, sport and other areas. Foundation chief executive Sello Hatang praise im persistence. Those responses connect summit with communities and young people wey e hope influence.
So the 2019 milestone get different concrete parts: pioneering climb, repeated attempts and earlier projects for food and libraries. Keeping them together give fuller account than summit photograph alone. E recognise the mountaineering achievement alongside the work wey Khumalo choose to connect with am.