NAIROBI, Kenya — When most people think about Africa, they don’t think of snow. Two Lake Tahoe locals will change that as they attempt to summit and ski Mount Kenya in November. The two are climbing to make a statement about climate change and raise funds for micro-loans in an expedition they call “Summit for our Sisters.”
Mount Kenya is home to the first and only skiing competition in the country, held in 1936. Africa’s second highest mountain after Kilimanjaro, it rises above the country’s highlands at a demanding 16,355 feet. Due to recent global warming trends, only a handful of mountain enthusiasts have accomplished this trek on Lewis Glacier, one of the last permanent snowfields in Africa. Studies show the snow and ice on the volcanic peak of Mount Kenya are melting away so fast scientists estimate they will disappear in the next two or three decades. 
Given this trend, Jennifer Gurecki and Meghan Kelly are following their passion and jumping on the opportunity to become part of the select few to accomplish such a large feat. The expedition, sponsored by Coalition Snow, an emerging ski and snowboard company for women, and will benefit Zawadisha, an innovative micro-lending organization.
“The women I work with in Kenya are incredibly impacted by climate change. Many of them are farmers and other sell food staples at the local market. Drought, caused by climate change, leads to less productive crops, decreasing daily incomes and increasing food costs. While I sit and contemplate the effects of climate change, these women are living it day in and day out,” says Gurecki. “At Zawadisha, we are actively developing strategies on how we can support our members in adapting to climate change. Through this expedition we are hope to raise awareness about the issue, while also raising funds for the small business loans Zawadisha provides to women living in poverty.
Kelly added, “At Coalition Snow, we’re passionate about three things: snowsports, women’s empowerment, and the environment.The expedition to Mt. Kenya combines all three and really shows the world what we’re all about. While we partner with Zawadisha, we hope to share our experiences in entrepreneurship with the micro-loan recipients and learn from their experiences. We’re environmentally and socially conscious, but we’re also unique in the snowsports industry–we’re launching a skiing and snowboarding company in Africa!”
The two adventurers have been passionate about playing in snow since moving to the Sierra Nevada nearly a decade ago. They also have been equally passionate about empowering women, both locally and internationally. Meghan is a co-founder of Coalition Snow, an athlete in the upcoming all women’s ski film “Pretty Faces,” and the regional coordinator for SheJumps, an organization striving to increase female participation in outdoor activities. Jen founded the non-profit Zawadisha in 2010, an organization providing micro-loans, savings, education, and preventative healthcare products to women in Kenya.
ZAWADISHA
Zawadisha is a non-profit organization whose mission is to empower, entrust and expand opportunities for women. Zawadisha arms women with access to capital and the life-saving tools they need to lift themselves out of poverty. We provide micro-loans, business and budgeting training, self-defense education, savings incentives, and preventative healthcare items. Our model is building a stronger world, one in which women are self-sufficient, successful and stand on their own two feet. Learn more at zawadisha.org.
COALITION SNOW
Coalition is an emerging ski and snowboard company run by women for women, based out of Lake Tahoe. The first of its kind, Coalition is a company illustrating the power and determination of women. Coalition by design represents what is important to women today—challenging yourself, recreating in the outdoors, and living sustainably. Not only are our skis and boards constructed with bamboo cores and sidewalls and recycled edges, we also will be donating a portion of their sales to organizations that impact and empower women both locally and internationally. Learn more at coalitionsnow.com.
