“Accessible Together” was one of the taglines for this adventure, it also “brought together” people from around the globe.
As a school student Masoud’s desire to scale Mount Kilimanjaro was ignited. He was reluctant to voice this dream with others as he felt they would think him crazy given his physical stature. The sharing of this dream with his “newly adopted family” at Shanga where he works, began in 2019 after he had been there for a few years. He knew his Shanga Family would embrace his dream, not ridicule it. Here is how it all came together.
In February 2020, James Lassner, Executive Director of FAISR, who organized the largest delegation of disabled climbers to reach the top of Kilimanjaro, visited Shanga. This visit was suggested to Jamie by Stephanie Diamond, who had visited the workshop during a trip to Tanzania in November 2019, as Shanga aligned so perfectly with FAISR’s mission. During this visit Jamie met Masoud and made him a promise after he shared that he had lived at the foot of Kilimanjaro all his life but never had the opportunity to climb it. Now, because of FAISR, Popote Africa Adventures, Shanga and Sami Diamond (Stephanie’s daughter), he was the first little person to reach the Roof of Africa at 5,885 metres and fulfil a life’s dream. What neither Jamie nor Stefanie anticipated, was how much that one visit would change someone else’s life.
Ruth Willatt, Business Development Consultant, Shanga, explained the continuation of the domino effect. "Throughout life connections, comments and promises are made but at times they are not made by people with as much integrity as Jamie Lassner. I met Jamie in 2020 when he visited Shanga, our meeting led to a promise to support Masoud achieve his life long dream to scale Mount Kilimanjaro. Through Jamie's tenacity and connections, Masoud's epic journey is happening. Over the last few months Masoud, with support of his friends, family and Shanga, has trained daily, and spoken often about the upcoming adventure but on the day of his departure his excitement was so overwhelming it left him speechless. This never happens. Supported by Sabino Kweka and his team from Popote Africa Adventures, Masoud commenced climbing the mountain on Sunday, 6th September 2020.” Ruth continued: “A special thanks goes to Sami, who has not yet had the opportunity to travel to Tanzania, but has a caring heart and made it her mission to see that our Masoud, whom she has never met, reaches his goal and fulfilled his dream.”
Due to the pandemic and curtailed international travel, FAISR conducted a virtual 19,341 ft climb, roll, walk, or run to raise funds and awareness on how to make the world accessible together. In Tanzania, Masoud completed the virtual event with the comradery of his friends from Shanga and to commence training without yet having a set date for the climb. Sami, an 11 year old from New Jersey, USA participated by biking and walking her 19,341 ft and simultaneously decided as part of her Bat Mitzvah (coming of age) celebration, she would make bracelets to raise funds to sponsor Masoud to climb Kilimanjaro. Sami’s success assisted Masoud, a man she’s never met and who lives 7,500 miles away, to etch his name into history and become the first little person to scale Mount Kilimanjaro.
Sami said: “Although I’m not able to be with Masoud physically, I thought about him all week long. My heart was on Kilimanjaro helping him climb to the top, and that felt really great.” Sami continued with sharing a learnt life lesson: “Masoud taught me the importance of having a dream and facing your fears head on. This showed me the power of focusing on the fact that almost anything is possible. Masoud clearly showed me that #EverybodyCanBeASuperstar.”
“Sami is a bundle of positive energy and blessed with wisdom beyond her years. In her words and deeds, she taught us much about assisting to make the world a better place. We are humbled that Sami has made Masoud’s dream come true, allowing him to climb the tallest peak in Africa and return safely.” Lassner continued: “We have much to learn from our youth and Sami is a natural lively leader”.
Sabino Kweka, General Director of Popote Africa Adventures in Tanzania, who organized the February FAISR trip, arranged for Masoud to join a small team of German trekkers, Dr Chris & Dr. Ulricht, who commenced their trek on Kilimanjaro’s Lemosho Route on Sunday 6th September. Thank you to both of them for including Masoud in their trekking adventure.
Sabino added: “After we completed the record breaking Kili climb in February 2020, we went to the remarkable and creative Shanga. Ruth and Jamie met while the rest of the trekkers shopped. From that meeting came our joint cooperation to make Masoud’s dream come true." He excitedly added: "We look forward to celebrating this personal milestone with Masoud and Masoud’s global accomplishment of being the first little person to reach the peak of our Mount Kilimanjaro. Accessible travel is important especially when we have the tallest free standing mountain in Africa that is reachable by all who wish to trek it.”
Omari Paramaba, Masoud’s guide from Poptote, texted Lassner as they entered the Londorossi Gate: “I am very excited to climb with Masoud. My goal is to get to the top together, and I know we can do it. We will make it a September to Remember.” Omari, Shani (the other guide specifically for Masoud) and Masoud, made a strong and firming connection quickly, “we are now brothers for life”. Omari and Shani are known for giving trekkers nicknames, Masoud’s in now “Mfalme Mamba - King Crocodile” due to his strong and muscled legs and inner strength. We can happily report Masoub is extremely proud of his new title.
Masoud, fellow trekkers and the team arrived back on Sunday, September 13 about 9.30am exiting the Kilimanjaro National Park at the Mweka Gate. Though totally exhausted Masoud, not only found additional energy to share and celebrate his achievement with his friends and colleagues from Shanga, he then sparked up to do an interview with a team from AYO TV.
Masoud, Mfalme Mamba, Shanga’s Hero. Masoud’s message to everyone involved is “Asantini sana sana sana,” (Thank you many times over).
If you would like further information about the trek here contact details:
FAISR: James Lassner 347-987-8700 jamie@faisr.org FAISR.org
Sami: Stefanie Diamond StefDiamond@gmail.com
Shanga: Ruth Willatt developement@shanga.org shanga.org
Popote Africa: Sabino Kweka sabi@popoteafrica.com popoteafrica.com
AYO TV’s Interview and video https://youtu.be/ub9yEmEkev0