Featured in 2027
mountaineer · community leader
Afghanistan
Freshta is a mountaineer and community leader. In Afghanistan she helped lead and train the country's first women mountaineers, part of a team breaking barriers a decade ago. Now based in Manchester, she runs inclusive, therapeutic outdoor activities for women who never had the chance to get outdoors, especially refugees. She counts the shift in mindsets among families and communities who followed their work as her proudest accomplishment. She hopes to climb other mountains.
What do you do in the mountains?
I have experienced profound moments in different mountains. Back in Afghanistan I was helping and leading the first Afghan women mountaineers through mountaineering. Now in the UK, I organise and lead inclusive and therapeutic activities for women who never had opportunities to experience outdoor activities, especially refugees.
The moment that means the most
Not a summit! Witnessing my own growth, our team, and seeing changes in the mindsets of families and many other people who knew about our work in Afghanistan. When we were thinking of climbing big mountains about 10 years ago in Afghanistan, we were the first team working hard to attempt such endeavours. This now feels a great accomplishment for me. I am proud I was part of women breaking barriers for other women.
What's next?
For the future, I hope to climb many different mountains.
Freshta is one of twelve women in the 2027 Women of Mountaineering wall calendar. Every calendar funds future Summit Scholarships and Adventure Lens Grants for women and girls.
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