Kelowna woman to climb Mount Kilimanjaro this fall in an effort to end youth homelessness

A local woman is raising money and awareness for homeless teens in the community.

Victoria Schermel, a Boys and Girls Club youth supporter, will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa on Oct. 10, 2019.

“40.1% of homeless adults had their first homeless experience before the age of 16. A lot youth homelessness is hidden,” said Schermel.

“They are couch- surfing, living in cars, abandoned houses, or other precarious options. It’s preventable. They have a much better chance of success if they can be supported early on. At one point every youth on the street was once in school. That’s where we need to start.”

She says that the funds raised will go to one of the Journey Home’s youth homelessness initiatives, The Upstream Project.

The Upstream Project is a program in schools that uses an assessment tool to determine students that are at early risk. From there, supports are put into place for them and their families.

Schermel says that this tool has the ability to catch 50% more kids that need help but are slipping under the radar of teachers and support workers.

“The Central Okanagan Journey Home Society is thrilled to support Victoria in her quest to raise funds for the Upstream Project,” said Gaelene Askeland, executive director of the Journey Home Society.

“Youth homelessness can be solved through assertive connection with youth at risk. The Upstream Project will be a key piece to doing that.”

She says that she is climbing with a company called Charity Challenge, and has pledged to raise a minimum of $6040. Once she raises that minimum sponsorship, $1505 of that will go back towards helping cover some of the costs of the trip.

Then, anything above and beyond that will go back to the charity.

"As long as I am able to raise that minimum I will be able to go. I have also spent thousands of dollars of my own money to cover the majority of the costs," she explained in an email to NowMedia. "I am hoping to gain some corporate sponsorships to help support my climb!"

To do so, she has a crowdfunding page a GoFundMe, and she will be hosting a clothing drive at the Boys and Girls Club Downtown Youth Centre on July 20 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

She’s asking for gently used clothing, accessories, and bedding, which will then be sold to Value Village for money.

Schermel is also inviting the community to join a “walk and talk” every Saturday morning this summer at some trails around Kelowna.

She is asking for $5 donations and hopes to have conversations with the community on issues surrounding youth homelessness.

For more information, visit her Facebook page Climb for Youth Homelessness. You can also find her on Instagram here.