Kilimanjaro for a cause: Jordanian seeks awareness for accessibility

AMMAN — "Jordan is becoming such an important destination for adventurers around the world, yet, many of these touristic sites are accessible to people with physical challenges," said Sara Asad, a young Jordanian who decided to climb the highest peak in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro, to raise awareness on the issue of accessibility in Jordan. 

"Accessibility is one of the biggest problems here and there is still a huge lack of awareness from people," the 22-year old told The Jordan Times on Sunday, as she voiced her eagerness to realise this mountaineering achievement "in honour of people with determination".

A few months ago, Asad came across "Accessible Jordan", a 2017 online initiative by 26-year old Aya Aghabi, which recently grew to become a nationwide campaign promoting accessibility for people with physical challenges across Jordan.

"Most of the public and donors' attention is focused on issues related to children, orphans or women, but there was no actual campaign working to raise awareness on the problem of accessibility, which is why Accessible Jordan is such an inspiring movement to me," she said.

Planning to climb the 5,895 metre-high summit on January 16, Asad said her aim is to make people aware and involved in the development of Jordan’s accessible infrastructure.
"We are not only talking about people in wheelchairs here; this also concerns parents with strollers, the elderly or anyone with a broken leg. It is truly an issue that touches us all," the young adventurer underlined.

Despite the lack of exact figures, HRH Prince Mired, president of the Higher Council for the Affairs of Persons with Disabilities, recently said that an estimated 11 to 15 per cent of the Jordanian population suffers from disabilities, amounting to more than 1,100,000 people.

"I know so many people who cannot go to a shop, a café or even a  medical clinic without calling beforehand to make sure the place is accessible and that is a shame," Asad stressed, adding that "almost none of the sports facilities in Jordan are accessible, which also completely deprives athletes with disabilities from the opportunity to practice the sports they love".

She said one of her goals is to create sustainable and ongoing projects to improve accessibility for athletes with disabilities, citing her desire to see more marathons being accessible as well as adventure experiences like the Jordan Trail.

"I am not climbing Mt Kilimanjaro for myself. Rather, I am climbing it towards a cause that aims to make it possible people of determination to engage in any activity they want. " Asad stressed.

Raising money to support her climb and donate to the Accessible Jordan campaign, she said "any donation is valuable, small donations are highly encouraged because what matters getting as much  people involved as possible, and engaged with the issue." Asad concluded.

Her fundraising campaign, which can be accessed at https://www.gofundme.com/sara2kilimanjaro will contribute to funding projects such as building accessible swings in parks, accessible paths and city ramps across the Kingdom.