Ascend: Leadership Through Athletics

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Ascend: Leadership Through Athletics

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Ascend provides mountaineering based leadership training to empower girls. Ascend has been serving the young women of Afghanistan since 2014.

Our proudest achievement is seeing our program graduates go on to transform their lives through education; nearly all Ascend graduates have gone on to university studies. Most of them come from families where their parents are not literate, so these girls are breaking barriers in a profound way. We use mountain climbing as a way to build confidence and strength. Some of our girls have accomplished significant climbing feats. Hanifa Yousoufi, part of our program from 2016-2019, is the first Afghan woman to have climbed Mt Noshaq (24,580' or 7,492 meters). Ascend is leading the way by introducing the sport of rock climbing to Afghans. Several of our team members are on track to become certified Single Pitch Instructors in 2020. They will be Afghanistan's first. The program uses mountain climbing as a vehicle to cultivate unity and a sense of shared achievement among Afghan women of different ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic groups. Team members will be challenged to overcome stereotypes and biases and work together to achieve a difficult but tangible goal. The unique attributes of mountain climbing make it an ideal sport for developing strong teams; remote settings far from the distractions of everyday life allow us to create a secure “container” in which team members can bond with one another. The nature of mountaineering requires discipline and precision, and each member of the group relies on the others for her safety. This environment fosters a camaraderie rarely experienced in a culture where women have little opportunity to build relations with one other outside of the family structure, or beyond their own socio-economic or ethnic background. Training includes a blend of physical (fitness and technical) training along with formal instruction in conflict resolution, leadership, and psychology. The program inspires other Afghans with an example of unity and athletic achievement at a time of national crisis and widespread anxiety about the future. Such a straightforward, universally-understood achievement as reaching a mountain peak pushes the bounds of belief in what Afghan women are capable of doing and sets an example for young people in Afghanistan and beyond.

10/14/2026

FLASHBACK: 2019, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN.
It’s Zarghona’s first hike with Ascend, and, only halfway through, she’s already having doubts. Soon, those doubts evolve to regret. “Why am I doing this?” she wondered. But that first hike turned into another and then another, until eventually she came to love the freedom and energy and peace that hiking gave her.

But then came the dark night in August 2021, when Zarghona faced a life-altering, nerve-wracking choice: Should she flee her country as a refugee, leaving behind her friends and family, or stay and watch her freedom disappear overnight? If she stayed, there would be no more hikes (not to mention so many other freedoms the average person takes for granted).

Bravely, Zarghona chose to leave, a decision that opened up a world of possibilities and opportunities. As we recognize Month, learn how Zarghona’s choice might impact generations of women to come. Click the link in our bio to read the story of how Zarghona went from reluctant hiker to brave refugee to breast cancer researcher..

10/10/2026

Mental health isn't just something we talk about, it’s something we build through outdoor movement, connection to nature, and community.

At Ascend, we believe that when young women step into the outdoors, push past self-doubt, and support each other, mental resilience naturally follows.

This ,let’s keep creating safe spaces where everyone feels empowered to grow.

10/09/2026

Your Donor-Advised Fund holds the power to create immediate, direct change.
When you direct your DAF to Ascend Athletics, you aren't just granting dollars—you're funding emotional safety, leadership training, and athletic opportunities for young women navigating restrictive environments in Pakistan, Kabul, and beyond.

Don't let your charitable dollars sit idle. Recommend a grant to Ascend through your DAF via the link below and help us build a safer, more resilient future for girls.

https://donate.infinitegiving.com/ascend-leadership

10/02/2026

Did you know that just 2% of global philanthropic giving goes to organizations serving women and girls? In a world that has other priorities, Ascend Athletics invests in women and girls’ empowerment every day. And we need you to help us shift the balance.

What we do is only possible because of our donors. Instead of government funding, we’re powered by private giving. Want to know exactly what it takes to deliver leadership and athletics programs for young women in Kabul and in Pakistan? In her most recent blog, Ascend founder and executive director Marinalegree shares an open look at our budget and how your support funds direct, ground-level impact.

Read the full post in our bio to get involved, and make a gift.

09/29/2026

As part of our Building Climate Resilience and Social Cohesion project in Kabul, after community dialogues, Committees have been established as a local mechanism for residents to come together, identify environmental and climate-related challenges, and explore practical solutions.

These committees create a space for community members to share their experiences, coordinate with one another, and work together toward sustainable local action.

Women’s participation is at the heart of this process. Their experiences, knowledge, and perspectives are essential to understanding environmental challenges and shaping solutions that respond to the needs of their families and communities.

Together, we are taking steps toward stronger community participation and a more climate-resilient future.

09/25/2026

Everyone needs a "third place"—a safe space outside of home, school, or work where you can feel accepted, secure, and entirely yourself.

For Lauren growing up in a restrictive environment meant living under intense judgment and pressure to conform. But when she found the climbing gym, everything changed. On the wall, she found more than a sport—she found emotional safety, resilience, and a community where limits didn't exist.

"The climbing community offered me emotional safety... it inspired me to believe I was capable of so much more than I ever gave myself credit for."

Today, She brings that same transformation full circle by mentoring Ascend youth at Sportrock Gym—creating a judgment-free space where young women can speak up, trust themselves, and do hard things together.

Tap the link in our bio to read Lauren’s full story on our blog.

09/16/2026

Unspoken despair can make the world feel impossibly heavy—but no one has to carry it alone.

For , we’re sharing Zahra’s story. Facing overwhelming pressure, she once believed her life had lost its value. But stepping into Ascend’s safe group therapy sessions proved that reaching out breaks the cycle of isolation.

Reaching out for help is never a sign of weakness—it is the first, bravest step toward staying alive and finding healing.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please know there is support, community, and hope.

Tap the link in our bio to read Zahra’s full story.

09/11/2026

When she recently summited Mount Katahdin with her son Charlie, Ascend founder couldn’t help reflecting on the many hikes she’s taken in places where mothers would never dream of taking their kids on outdoor adventures–places where outdoors adventures are off-limits to women and girls.

In her most recent Ascend blog post, Marina writes:

“Standing on Katahdin with my son reminded me of what we are working for every single day. We aren't just fighting for the right to hike—we are fighting for freedom of movement, bodily autonomy, and the right to belong in the world.

Every girl, everywhere, deserves to stand on a summit, look out at the horizon, and know that she belongs there. Until that is a reality for women and girls across the globe, our work continues”

Click the link in our bio to read the full blog!

09/08/2026

Knowledge is the foundation of resilience.

This , we are proud to highlight our partnership with UN Women Afghanistan on the Building Climate Resilience and Social Cohesion project in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Through our recent Community Dialogues, we brought the local women and youth together to build practical skills in household water management, waste reduction, and peacebuilding.

From establishing Climate and Water Management Committees to installing greywater systems, education in action gives local leaders the tools to shape a cleaner, safer, and more climate-resilient future.

When women are given the platform to learn and lead, entire communities thrive.

09/04/2026

“The greatest danger to our future is apathy.” —Jane Goodall

It’s hard to believe it’s now been more than five years since we evacuated dozens of women and girls from . To this day, we feel so much gratitude for the incredible generosity that so many of you demonstrated and the massive impact you made.

Looking back, it’s still difficult to process that period in time. It was a storm of chaos and fear and urgent compassion. Of course, when most storms end, they’re often followed by a period of quiet and peace that signals the worst is over and brighter times are ahead. But for countless women in Afghanistan (and so many other places around the world), the storm simply took a different form and the climate of their society remains as oppressive and harsh as ever.

At Ascend, our need for support is no less urgent today than it was five years ago. We remain active in Afghanistan, doing all we can to brighten women’s days and broaden their horizons, even in the face of so much opposition. In Pakistan, we continue to help women and girls through and . And now, we’re actively working to develop programming in the United States.

We’re determined to keep pushing and keep helping women everywhere ascend beyond the limitations placed on them. To keep it going, though, we need your help. There are so many ways you can support our work and the countless women we’re determined to help. Learn more by clicking the link in our bio.

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Fairfax, VA

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http://www.ascendathletics.org/, https://www.ascendathletics.org/post/what-it-takes-to-power-courage-the-real-cost-of-di

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