Kili4kids is an international project created by Inna Flagapartner of the Lions Club Lomellina Parco del Ticino (district 108 IB3), which combines the high altitude challenge with a concrete goal: to build schools in 10 poor countries in the world. Ten mountains for ten schools, with the ambitious goal of collecting one million dollars in ten years.
A Lions woman for each nation composes the team of climbers: With each peak reached, a 100,000 dollar fundraising is activated intended to build a new school. The projects are selected thanks to the local Lions network, well rooted in the territories.
The first climb, in 2019 on the Kilimanjaro in Tanzaniahas financed an elementary school inaugurated in 2023 on the outskirts of Nairobi. In 2023, the second mission touched the summit of Mount Kenya: the funds raised allowed the construction of a dormitory school for 85 albini and blind children, on a land donated to Moshi, Tanzania, which will open in September 2025.
In April 2025 the team reached The base camp of Everest (5,364 meters) in Nepal, With the aim of financing a school near Kathmandu. Among the 14 participants, coming from 14 different countries, also the famous Nepalese mountaineer Maya Sherpa.
Inna Flaga, founder of the project, He participated in the Himalayana expedition despite a recent knee interventionwithout any previous mountaineering experience. “It is not enough to talk about peace: peace is built, and starts from education,” he said.
Anyone can join by becoming Kili4kids ambassador With a donation of $ 1,000 and the commitment to spread the project in your country. The website www.kili4kids.org tells every stage, with updates, stories and images.
After Africa and Asia, the next destinations include Philippines, Pakistan, India, Ecuador. Also in Italy symbolic events were held, such as in the Ticino Park and on Lake Iseo, to testify that every step, even at low altitude, can make a difference.
