ASCEND: climbing as a tool for empowerment
This week Patagonia launches a new film chronicling the work of ASCEND, an organization that supports women in Afghanistan through climbing.
Founded in 2014 by Marina LeGree, ASCEND aims to empower girls to find their inner strength and self-confidence through sports.
“Growing up in a male-dominated society, you are always reminded that you are weak. And that is why I started climbing, to prove to myself that I am strong both mentally and physically,” explains Mina Bakhshi, one of the women who joined ASCEND. “We went from being an organization that empowered girls in Afghanistan to one that evacuates and resettles refugees,” adds Marina LeGree.Five women from ASCEND were relocated to North Carolina, where they started a new life through climbing and the help of Yosemite Search and Rescue (YOSAR) climbers Merryn Venugopal and Michelle Pellette.”The goal of ASCEND is to empower women through leadership and climbing,” explains Alison Kaplan, Yosemite National Park Climbing Ranger. “Many women who have been part of this community have shown a desire to help other women and bring more and more of them into the climbing community.”
Watch the full movie
here
