Sightsavers marks 50th anniversary of Mount Kilimanjaro expedition

Fifty years ago, on 20 February 1969, Sightsavers supported a group of young men with visual impairments on an expedition to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

The founders of Sightsavers (commonly known at that time as the Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind), Sir John and Lady Jean Wilson, wanted to combat negative attitudes towards disability and promote the importance of education to the lives of young people with visual impairments.

A training camp was held for the men, who came from Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya, and they were taught skills including how to climb and abseil using ropes, and how to use radio equipment.

After they successfully reached the summit of Kilimanjaro, the young men were received in their hometowns as heroes. The walking boots of one of the men were put on display at the Museum of Uganda.

Film footage from the expedition can be seen in the video below.