In Pakistan for a women's mountain course

An initiative that achieved considerable success in its first edition in 2022, capturing the attention of the media and local authorities.

The project is now supported with an official patronage of the authorities of the government of the Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and its second edition will take place starting from April 2024, with a course reserved exclusively for girls from the region.

“Ferrino is proud to support this initiative – explains Anna Ferrino, CEO – and to announce it on the occasion of International Women's Day. The promotion of mountain communities and female empowerment have always been values ​​dear to Ferrino and today we have the opportunity to renew our commitment to these issues by supporting a project that promotes women's access to the mountain environment and their role as companions and mentors in outdoor activities. Through the contribution of technical trekking and climbing materials, Ferrino is committed to ensuring the success and safety of participants”.

The course will be run locally by the Government Postgraduate College for Girls and will provide participants with the skills needed to lead school excursions in nature, with a certificate issued at the end of the training course.

The team of instructors will once again be all-female: four Italians, one Catalan, one Pakistani. Their names are: Patrizia Romagnolo - CAI national free climbing instructor, Elisa Peyrot - CAI national mountaineering instructor and Alpine rescue doctor, Chiara Delpino - CAI mountaineering instructor and archaeologist, Concep Mirò - environmentalism and trekking expert, Francesca Colesanti - national mountaineering instructor and journalist, Susanna Gonella - trekking expert representing the presidency office of Mountain Wilderness International and finally Ayesha Hinna - expert in Gandhara Buddhist art.

The course is directed and coordinated by Prof. Carlo Alberto Pinelli - head of the Asian Desk of Mountain Wilderness International and academic of the CAAI.

To get to the heart of the project, we met Patrizia Romagnolo , to whom we asked some questions to better understand this initiative.

Patrizia, thank you for granting us this interview. Could you share with us how the project was born and what is its main goal?

The project was born from the need to create a “protected area” in the Swat region of Pakistan, an area that boasts a rich archaeological history also linked to Italy by the studies of the famous archaeologist Giuseppe Tucci.
The main objective is to promote the protection of the territory and the training of local professionals, especially among women, through mountain courses that include hiking, climbing and the study of artistic and archaeological monuments in the area.

How is the course structured and what will be the role of the participants?

The course is designed to help participants get to know the area and acquire new skills. They will be involved in hiking, studying the art monuments of Gandhara and climbing. Our goal is to make them more aware and capable of accompanying local school excursions, transmitting the beauty and importance of the area to future generations.

Interestingly, the team of instructors will be entirely female. What is the reason for this choice and what are the challenges you face?

The choice to have an all-female team of instructors was made to address the gender divides that still exist in the region. We want to demonstrate that women can be equally effective companions and mentors as men. The challenges are many, but determination and mutual support among us allow us to overcome them successfully.

What is Ferrino’s role and why is it important to have partnerships with outdoor brands in initiatives like these?

Partnerships with outdoor brands like Ferrino are crucial because they allow us to access high-quality resources and equipment. Additionally, these collaborations help raise awareness about the importance of environmental conservation and responsible outdoor living.

What are the future prospects of the project and how could local authorities be involved?

We are currently focusing our efforts on consolidating the course and getting its value recognized at school level. The support of local authorities is essential to ensure the continuity of the project and to expand opportunities for girls in the region. We hope that the government will continue to support initiatives like these, recognizing their positive impact on the community and the environment.