Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1197486
CULTURE maltatoday | SUNDAY • 5 JANUARY 2020 6 TODAY the Kilimanjaro Challenge 13 team have left for Tanzania to climb Kiliman- jaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world. The team is made up of 19 individuals from all walks of life who took on this big physical challenge with the sole purpose of raising mon- ey to help a community in Ethiopia. Over the past thirteen years, just under €1million in funds have been collect- ed through the Kilimanjaro Challenge, headed by Keith Marshall and Austin Cachia, for eleven projects in Kenya and Ethiopia. All of these projects have been co-ordinated by the Missionary Movement 'Jesus in Thy Neighbour', founded by the late Fr George Grima who sadly passed away in 2017, and is now headed by Fr Alex Cauchi. The projects completed so far have all been successful in growing the community where they have been imple- mented. This year, the project is a primary school in Bonga, Ethiopia. The school will host 700 children and will be dedicated to Victor Licari. The KC13 team has been meeting up since February 2019 and has completed a year of intense training in preparation for climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, standing at almost 6,000m above sea level. Through various events held throughout the year and various company donations, the team has collected over Euro 100,000 needed for the completion of the project. The team left for Africa on the 31st of December 2019, spending eight days climb- ing the mountain. Later, they will they will be travel- ling to Ethiopia to inaugu- rate the school in Bonga. Kilimanjaro Challenge 13 team leaves for Tanzania and Ethiopia THE Żejtun Local Council presented its an- nual Christmas concert on Monday 30 De- cember at St Catherine Parish Church. The concert featured the VOCA Choir, who interpreted various styles of Gospel mu- sic, including traditional and spiritual works, as well as contemporary Christian music. The lively and synchronised choreography added to the gospel interpretation of songs, which conveyed a positive message of hope. The repertoire featured classical Christmas music and festive songs both in Maltese and English. During the concert, members of the Żejtun Literature Group performed some of their poems with social and festive themes. Moreover, the Żejtun Local Council award- ed the best two musicians of the year from the two main band clubs in Żejtun of Żejtun, Beland Band Club and the Żejtun Band Club with the Carlo Diacono trophy. During the same event, the local coun- cil also commemorated the 222nd anni- versary since Grandmaster Ferdinand von Hompesch honoured Żejtun with the title of a city, Città Beland, on December 30, 1797. This event will commence the celebrations for Żejtun 2020 as the European Destination of Excellence. Zejtun Christmas concert launches city's celebrations as 2020 European Destination of Excellence