DREFF Partners with Dominican Mountaineer Karim Mella to Realize Student Expedition to Pico Duarte

New York, August 1, 2012

Following the success of the first-ever DREFF organized student expedition to Pico Duarte, which took place April 2-5, 2012, professional mountaineer and DREFF contributor Karim Mella and his foundation Fundación “Siempre Más” coordinated a subsequent trip, July 5-8, for thirty five students from the Politécnico Ave María de Villa Mella and the Liceo La Salle de Capotillo public high schools.

The July expedition was made possible thanks to support from the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), an initiative of Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of the Dominican Republic, the Reach Your Summits Foundation, the Swanson Family Foundation, Fundación Futuro Posible and other private enterprises.

During the four-day trek, students learned about environmental topics and the importance of personal strength, teamwork, comradeship, discipline and group awareness – abilities that will help them to achieve their present and future goals.

The trip provided the students the opportunity to coexist with nature in the heart of the Cordillera Central mountain range, many miles away from civilization. They were able to live an experience that will endure in their hearts and minds, forever impacting their lives. Mella hopes that from this experience, the students will gain appreciation of the importance of natural resources and the diverse means possible by which to ensure their preservation.

About Karim Mella
Karim Mella is a professional mountaineer. He has scaled Pico Duarte over fifty times, and together with other Dominican mountaineers formed the group “7 Peaks,” whose members strive to scale the tallest mountain on each continent and be the firsts to plant the Dominican flag. In 2011, Mella was part of the Dominican team that set off to conquer Mount Everest. Mella was the first Dominican to reach the precipice of Mount Everest and plant the nation’s flag.

In 2011, following his return from Everest, Mella was motivated to share his experiences and to inspire young people in his home country of the Dominican Republic. With his slogan, “My Goal is the Top,” Mella demonstrates that through hard work and dedication, all goals are attainable.

About the First Annual DREFF Student Expedition to Pico Duarte
DREFF organized the First Annual Student Expedition to Pico Duarte, which took place April 2-5, 2012. The four-day trek for forty-five students from three Dominican high-schools -- Centro de Excelencia Media Profesora Cristina Billini Morales “Fe y Alegria”, Centro de Excelencia República de Colombia and Centro Educativo República de Guatemala, in partnership with Karim Mella, included lectures by the students’ teachers on the geography of the Cordillera Mountain Range, rivers, fauna, flora, the climate of the Dominican Republic, environmental protection, forest fires, reforestation and first aid, among other topics.

The innovative initiative was the outcome of the first edition of the Festival, celebrated in September 2011, and the resulting national and international network that emerged. The expedition provided participating students with the unique chance to develop an emotional connection with nature.

The program was an enormous success. DREFF looks forward to the 2013 expedition!

Related links:
www.drenvironmentalfilmfestival.org
www.globoverdedominicano.org
www.karimmella.com