Dubai VJ climbs Kilimanjaro for human trafficking victims

V FOR A VICTORIOUS SMILE ... VJ Nagender Rao poses for a picture atop Mount Kilimanjaro.

August 12, 2015 may be a date long forgotten by many, but for 31-year-old VJ Nagender Rao it was the day he summited Mount Kilimanjaro during a feat which gave hope to some of India's youngest human trafficking victims.
"At the beginning of my trek I told my guide 'even if I am near death, you need to get me to the summit'. I wanted him to see how serious I was."
Speaking to Khaleej Times after successfully climbing Africa's highest peak - which stands at 19,341ft - Rao's initial plan to raise $10,000 for the Rescue Foundation, a Mumbai-based NGO that seeks to rescue and rehabilitate human trafficking victims in India, came in just shy of the target.
"I raised $9,300 in the end. I feel humbled after the climb. I feel worthwhile, like I've actually made a difference."
Days after returning from the trip however, Rao's employer, DMG events, added another $5,000 to the pot.
"They told me they were going to match the amount I had raised from my colleagues which was $5,000. I've now smashed my original target of $10,000, thanks to them. It is fantastic for the Foundation."
The challenging climb
Though Dubai-based Rao had only ever ascended a small peak in Scotland before tackling Kilimanjaro, its tough terrain, dizzying altitude and hours-long days did little to put him off.
"We trekked about seven hours each day and struggled through cold temperatures, heavy rain and hugely steep inclines. My dream now is to conquer all seven summits, but I'll have to convince my wife first."
Though successful in his working life, Rao said poor decisions in his earlier personal life left him feeling empty. For him, the climb was both a personal battle as well as a charitable effort.
"I just felt like I needed to challenge myself. Take myself out of my comfort zone."
Always fascinated by Tanzania's most famous landmark, once he made the decision to climb to the top, Rao thought to himself 'why not do it for a cause'.
Shock value
In India alone, an estimated 200,000 women and young girls are forced into prostitution every year.
The spread of HIV and AIDS has done little to discourage the sex industry's growth - instead, it has led traffickers to seek even younger girls, who are more likely to be disease-free.
With some girls as young as 10 forced to have sex with up to 10 men a day, the Dubai-based events worker said the shocking statistics really hit home with him.
"I thought I could just donate money, but then when I thought of the daily struggle of these poor girls, I knew I needed to do more. I wanted to raise awareness. Make a change."
Rao started his seven-day trek on August 8 and said the first and last days were the toughest.
"No matter how fit you are, it is so tough on you mentally. The altitude and steep climbs exhaust your body too."
On the day of the summit, sitting at 14,000ft up, Rao's alarm clock rang out at 3.30am. By 12.40pm, with an extra 5,000ft under his belt, he had successfully reached the peak. But doubts did flood his head at one point.
During the last few hours of the trek to the summit, some climbers were forced to turn back as the altitude had caused severe nausea.
It was a sight which unnerved Rao.
"Seeing them come back down just spurred a rush of negative thoughts in my head. I questioned if I could make it."
But overriding the doubts, Rao did make it.
With the freezing temperatures making solid foods impossible to eat, Rao and his team survived on energy gels and liquid throughout the final hours to the top.
"We had chocolate with us but it was frozen so we couldn't bit into eat."
Spending just 15 minutes at the top due to worsening weather conditions, he said it was an emotional feat.
"I remember tears welling in my eyes and I started to cry. I don't know why, but I just did. I was ecstatic that I had made it."
Since completing the climb, all money raised has gone directly to the Rescue Foundation. Though the foundation initially planned to build a shelter with the hefty donation, Rao asked that the money be directly used to take some of the victims off the street.
"Thankfully, they agreed to use the money for that purpose. I don't know exactly how many women and children have been rescued with that money, but even if I have saved one person, I am happy."
In the future, Rao plans to start up his own NGO in India to help victims of human trafficking and child labour.
He said helping these victims of abuse is one of the most rewarding things he has ever achieved.
"If I can help inspire others to do the same then this will be an even bigger reward. We can all make a difference to these peoples' lives."
kelly@khaleejtimes.com
www.letsstophumantrafficking.com

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