Bangladesh on Seven Summits
As Bangladesh turned 40 in 2011, Wasfia Nazreen, a rights-activist, writer and development practitioner, ventured out to climb the Seven Summits, the highest mountains in each of the seven continents.
This is the first time a Bangladeshi has taken up such a challenge and she has already reached the top of Aconcagua, the summit of South America on 16th December, Bangladesh's 40th Victory day and Kilimanjaro, the summit of Africa on 2nd October 2011.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Wasfia is headed to Everest, the summit of Asia and the highest mountain of the world next.
The Impact
In the process, Wasfia & friends formed the Bangladesh on Seven Summits Foundation, a pioneering educational institution that aims to train women and adolescent girls of her country in outdoor sports and wilderness activities. The Foundation believes that physical activities and confidence building as such is the first step in breaking the centuries-long gender-based social barriers, where a woman's place is to serve at home only and not encouraged to participate in outdoor sports. Classes plan to start in Fall 2013.
What We Need
Wasfia has been undergoing a serious amount of grueling training, and in order to fund her mountains, has sold of all her material belongings as well as took out a number of personal & bank loans. The money you donate here will be used to help Wasfia pay off those loans first and any/all amount left will be used in the Foundation's work.
"I am fully determined to reach the top of all seven continents and have sacrificed most of the regular things in my life on this mission. I hope you will join me and help me reach my target! The world must listen to Bangladesh, and hear her across the heights of Kilimanjaro to Denali, Aconcagua to Sagarmatha!" - wasfia nazreen
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