A young Kiwi woman has chosen to forgo the traditional Kiwi summer of beaches and barbeques for a Nepalese winter - in a fundraising effort to provide educational scholarships for girls in Sierra Leone.
Georgia Cassidy, 20, is currently on exchange at the City University of Hong Kong with the support of a Prime Minister's scholarship.
This Christmas Eve, in place of returning home to be with her family, the University of Auckland commerce and science student planned to embark on a sponsored 12-day trek up to Everest Base Camp in Nepal. She hoped to raise $2,100 to send seven Sierra Leone girls to school in the new year.
"I like the symbolism that I'm climbing for the opportunities that many don't have. I thought it could be cool if I use my scholarship as a way of helping others to get their education.
"Given that I would not be where I am without the help of others, I can think of no greater way to give back."