IN PAKISTAN WITH MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS, FOR A FEMALE MOUNTAIN COURSE

FERRINO TOGETHER WITH MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS, FOR A FEMALE MOUNTAIN COURSE DEDICATED TO PAKISTANI GIRLS

Ferrino, a leading company in the outdoor equipment sector, is pleased to announce its partnership with the female mountain course in the Swat region of Pakistan, promoted by the Asian Desk of Mountain Wilderness in collaboration with the Italian Academic Alpine Club (CAAI) and the International Association for Mediterranean and Oriental Studies (ISMEO).

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 official sponsorship from the government authorities of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, and its second edition will take place starting from April 2024, with a course exclusively reserved 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. Promoting mountain community empowerment and female empowerment has always been important values for Ferrino, and today we have the opportunity to renew our commitment to these issues by joining a project that promotes women's access to mountain environments and their role as guides and mentors in outdoor activities. Through the contribution of technical trekking and climbing materials, Ferrino is committed to ensuring the success and safety of the participants."

The course will be managed on-site by the Government Postgraduate College for Girls and will provide participants with the necessary skills to lead nature school excursions, with a certificate awarded upon completion of the training program.
The team of instructors will once again be all-female: four Italians, one Catalan, and one Pakistani. Their names are: Patrizia Romagnolo - CAI national instructor for free climbing, Elisa Peyrot - CAI national instructor for mountaineering and mountain rescue medic, Chiara Delpino - CAI instructor for mountaineering and archaeologist, Concep Mirò - expert in environmentalism and trekking, Susanna Gonella - trekking expert representing the Mountain Wilderness International board of directors, and finally Ayesha Hinna - expert in Buddhist art of Gandhara. 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 delve into the heart of the project, we interviewed 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 its main objective is?

The project was born from the need to create a "protected area" in the Swat region of Pakistan, an area with a rich archaeological history also linked to Italy through 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 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 introduce participants to the territory and acquire new skills. They will be involved in hiking activities, study of Gandhara art monuments, and climbing. Our goal is to make them more aware and capable of leading local school excursions, transmitting the beauty and importance of the area to future generations.

It's interesting to note that the team of instructors will be entirely female. What is the reason for this choice and what challenges do you face?

The decision to have an all-female team of instructors was made to address the gender divisions still present in the region. We want to demonstrate that women can be guides and mentors just as validly as men. The challenges are many, but our determination and mutual support 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. Furthermore, these collaborations contribute to raising awareness about the importance of environmental conservation and responsible outdoor activities.

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

Currently, we are focusing our efforts on consolidating the course and having its value recognized at the educational 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.