Vancouver inner-city kids climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Street2Peak

It'sone of the most physically challenging hikes anyone can undertake and a group of inner-city kids from East Vancouver have been preparing for years for a climb most can only dream of doing: scaling the heights ofMt. Kilimanjaro.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," says Brandon Kaine, a Grade 10 student at Streetfront, the alternative school program behind the project known as Street2Peak.

Streetfrontplaces an emphasis on physical activity and outdoor experiences as a way to engage students who have trouble in the mainstream schoolsystem.

The furthest I've ever travelled is Seattle.- BrandonKaine,StreetfrontGrade 10 student who will climb Mt. Kilimanjaro

In addition to taking classes in math, science, Social Studies and English, Streetfrontstudents run marathon races and spend time camping and hiking as part of their curriculum.

"I've really been able to focus since joining Streetfront," says Kaine, who's training to do his third marathon. "It's helped me pay attention in school."

Taking alternative education to another level

The trip to Mount Kilimanjaro "takes things to another level," says Trevor Stokes,theteacher at Streetfront. He's also the head of Alternative Programs at Britannia Secondary School, where Streetfront is based.

"We wanted to raise the bar and elevate the goalsfor thesekids."

Unique opportunity for disadvantaged kids

Britannia Secondary's former vice-principalAndrew Schofield came up with the idea of taking the students to Africa (he's originally from South Africa), and Street2Peak was born.

After 3 years of fundraising, students and volunteers raised over $100,000for the trip.

According to Stokes, the journey isas much about creating a sense of possibility as it is about achieving physical goals.

A majority of Streetfront's studentslive in Vancouver's DowntownEastside, about 80% are aboriginal, and most live in poverty.

"This has already been a transformingexperience," says Stokes. To the best of his knowledge, this is will be the first Canadian school group to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.

"There's such a sense of pride in what they've accomplished so far. It's amazing to see their focus."

The group of 15 students and their10 adult supervisorsdepart Vancouver on March 5 begin their ascent onMarch 7. They'll return to Vancouver on March 20, after spending time in Lake Manyara and Serengeti National Parks.

Kaineisthrilled about the opportunityand so is his mother. "Every day, she says 'I can't believe you're going to Africa!'" laughs Kaine.

"The furthest I've ever travelled is Seattle."

To hear Rick Cluff interview Brandon Kaine and Trevor Stokes on the eve of their departure, click the audio labelled: Street2Peak.