Helai, who did not do the Ascend program but who managed to get to the U.S. as a refugee when Kabul fell to the Taliban in 2021, was brought to the event by supporter Lynette, from Reston, who knew Afghanistan and when she chatted with her at the factory where Helai works, suggested she come for the fellowship of other young Afghan women. Photo by Eden Brown.
Marina LeGree and her team have been teaching Afghan girls how to climb mountains since 2014. While living and working in Afghanistan, LeGree saw a need, and an opportunity, to unlock the leadership skills of young women using the mountains surrounding their homes as a classroom. She realized this would have to be done very carefully, engaging the elders in villages to avoid a backlash — or worse. Starting with a pilot program of 20 Afghan girls in 2015, over 200 girls participated in the program from 2015-2020.
Those girls became leaders in their communities, instructors to the next program participants and, more importantly, changed the perception of women in their area. One became the first Afghan woman to summit Mount Noshaq, Afghanistan’s tallest mountain at 24,580 feet, 7,492 meters.
LeGree, a strawberry blonde pixie-like mother of two and military spouse, is full of energy and enthusiasm for her program, and she is hard to say “no” to. She got village elders to accept and support her efforts, and managed to get girls out of the country in 2021. Now, she is raising funds to keep the program going; she seeks donations, equipment, and volunteers, and she finds a role for anyone who wants to help. One of those is Brenda Stewart, from Louisville, Kentucky, who has volunteered to provide free consultancy services for ten years. Another is Stephanie Biery, who runs SFBS LLC, an interior design company.
Ascend’s holistic leadership development program is based on sport and civic engagement. Participants gain knowledge and skills that will serve them throughout their lives. Ascend works in places where women and girls have limited or no access to such opportunities. Each year, they enroll a new team of girls aged 15-24 to embark on a challenging program to become the next generation of leaders. The program's five pillars are community service, environmental stewardship, leadership training, mental health, and physical fitness.
Ascend participants train multiple days a week. They develop strong bodies and strong minds through experiential learning in physical fitness, community volunteering, mental health awareness, rock climbing, trekking and camping, and team-building activities. Second-year team members mentor the first-year team and alumnae stay connected with the program through the Ascend Alumnae Association, creating a network of accomplished and supportive women around the world.
LeGree didn’t let the fall of the Afghan government and subsequent return of Taliban prohibitions regarding women stop her: she started a program in Pakistan and recently returned to Afghanistan. Ascend Afghanistan is now in its tenth year.
The Arlington-based non-profit received support for the “Hike for Her”‘ from REI Co-op, Patagonia of DC and Patagonia of Alexandria, DC Oak, SFBS LLC, a window treatment company, Carol Berrigan, Sport Rock Climbing Center, Whelan’s Beer and Wine, Send Bars, Before and After Cafe, Devil’s Due Distillery, and Trail Dames, to name a few. Registering for the “Hike for Her” was $120, including the hike, gourmet picnic lunch, drinks, and catered barbecue dinner at the home of yet another supporter who had donated the venue.
“Each hiker who signed up for the day,” said Kelly Pokharel, one of the organizers, “covered the cost for one instructor in Afghanistan.” The hike attracted about 60 people, but fell short of its goal of raising $45,000.
To support Ascend Afghanistan, see: https://www.ascendathletics.org
For more about the Afghan Women’s Council at Georgetown University, see: https://usawc.georgetown.edu/mission/