The Climb for a Cause
In a quiet Vida e Caffè in Rondebosch East, after 8 p.m., Rushda Booley (30) and her sister Thaakirah (28) are typing away on laptops. They’re not just chatting – they’re running a trans‑national project that trades online visibility for real‑world impact.
Why Mount Toubkal?
From September 7‑10 2026 the sisters will fly to Morocco to tackle Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa at 4,167 metres. Together with a group of women they form Team Toubkal, aiming to raise money for displaced orphans in Gaza through the UK charity Human Appeal.
More Than a Physical Challenge
For Rushda and Thaakirah the climb isn’t just about fitness. They see it as a deliberate shift from passive online protest to active, bodily sacrifice. As Thaakirah wrote in their public manifesto:
“It’s about using the bodies Allah has entrusted to us, strengthening them, honoring them and challenging them for a greater cause. Every breath on high will remind us of the blessings we so often take for granted.”
Timing With Muharram
The ascent is scheduled during the Islamic month of Muharram, which marks the Hijrah – the migration from comfort to a higher purpose. By enduring freezing pre‑dawn starts and a difficulty rating labeled “hard,” the sisters view the climb as a tangible expression of faith and a direct response to the plight of over 850,000 displaced children in Gaza.
Avoiding Voluntourism Pitfalls
Rather than traveling to a conflict zone to “see suffering” or to boost personal image, the Booleys want to keep the focus on the aid itself. Rushda explains:
“There’s a balance between voluntourism and actually seeing where the money goes.”
To counter skepticism about international aid, they maintain a live, publicly visible tracker of fundraising progress.
Fundraising Snapshot
- Haseenah Booley (family accountant): £2,922.88 ≈ R63,719 – exceeded target.
- Haajir Booley: £1,461.31 ≈ R31,857 – 58 % of goal.
- Rushda Booley: £1,123.00 ≈ R24,481 – 45 % of goal.
- Thaakirah Booley: £991.67 from 11 donors ≈ R21,618 – 40 % of goal.
- Jumana Arabi: £3,415.91 – target met.
- Numa Ali: £2,501.30 – target met.
Messages from donors such as Natalia Ferreira Felix (“So proud”) and Lisa Sandercock & Tabinda Rashid Fadel (“May Allah accept from you!”) highlight the community spirit behind the campaign.
Homeschooling and Scouts: Roots of Their Values
Raised in London, the sisters were four of seven siblings educated at home by their mother. This approach kept their moral compass steady while encouraging engagement with the wider world through practical, community‑based settings.
Rushda praises the Boy Scout movement for its inclusivity:
“You attend camps with different faiths, and when it’s time to pray we stop and they respond.”
Tha> recalls that the Scout troop began with two Muslim boys – her brother and his second cousin, eventually secured special cooking utensils for Muslim members, showing that simple gestures make space for everyone.” The troop even acquired a special set of cooking utensils for Muslim members, proving that space can be made for everyone when we’re open to it.
When they returned to South Africa for university at Stellenbosch, the stark racial and economic divides shattered any lingering complacency.
“Moving back opened my eyes to the struggles people face every day,” Rushda said.
A Blueprint for Youth Month
As South Africa wraps up Youth Month, the Booley sisters suggest their Mount Toubkal effort can serve as a local model for young people wanting to tackle inequality.
They stress that lack of money isn’t a barrier – time is the universal currency everyone can give.
“If you can’t give back financially, volunteer your time,” Rushda advises. “Join an after‑school club, a mosque, a church, or any group that interests you and see how you can help.”
For the sisters, the true reward lies in knowing their steps might improve a child’s life, no matter how small.
“If our steps can make even a small difference in their lives, then every early morning, every tough moment, and every bubble of effort will be worth it,” Thaakirah says.
Conclusion
Rushda and Thaakirah Booley are turning a grueling mountain climb into a lesson in purposeful action. By linking physical endurance to faith, transparency, and community involvement, they show that meaningful change can start with a single step – whether on a summit or in a neighbourhood centre. Their story invites other teens to look beyond money, invest their time, and turn intention into real impact.
