Pretoria, May 11, 2006 – A Colbyn resident recently picked up 38 bags of litter on Mount Kenya on one of the voluntary mountain clean-up trips she undertakes on a regular basis.

Karin Schooling (42), who is devoted to cleaning up mountains in Africa, says irresponsible campers leave behind empty food cans, papers and bottles.

Karin had to rely on the help of mountain guides who showed her the way up the mountain and to get the bags of litter down.

This dedicated mountaineer, with a passion for saving the environment, has already traveled to eleven different African countries including Malawi, Uganda and Botswana to realize her dream.

“A mountain is a healing and sacred place. We must respect it and keep it clean,” she says.

Karin also drives ‘We Care’, an adventure project that involves underprivileged children in cleaning up operations.

“I have never had a bad experience on the mountains and that is why I involve underprivileged children on my trips when I climb hills in Pretoria.

“It brings joy to their lives.”

So dedicated is Karin about cleaning up the mountains, that she acts against the advise of friends and relatives.

“I am warned about the danger of traveling to countries such as Somalia and Mozambique all the time and even though I am presently struggling to get into Somalia, it will not keep me from doing what I believe in,” she says.

Source: Pretoria Record