Ascend - Leadership Through Athletics Inc.

Part I, Line 16

“Our primary program areas are leadership training, mountaineering training and expeditions, and fostering community engagement through volunteering. Leadership training: In 2016 we provided comprehensive leadership training to 28 Afghan young women between ages 15 and 23; each participant completed a 6-day-a-week curriculum of classroom and practical training in communication, conflict resolution, public speaking, goal setting, self esteem development, and trauma resiliency. Indirect beneficiaries include 224 immediate family members and more than 3,000 boys and girls who received our team's motivational talks at schools. Total cost: $23,803 Mountaineering training & expeditions: In 2016 we conducted five training trips in addition to regular weekly physical fitness and technical training courses. Our participants learned and practiced basic aerobic fitness and strength building; rock climbing; first aid and self care; essential backcountry skills; and beginning/intermediate mountain climbing skills. We provide quality gear, clothing and instruction, and they learn to put into practice what they've learned in safe, remote locations. Total cost: $44,574 Community engagement: In 2016 our 28 program participants were each required to implement a project of their own choosing to assist in their community in some way. Projects included helping care for animals at a shelter; teaching literacy, physical fitness, computer skills and health at a center for vulnerable women and children; teaching art to school-aged girls, and many others. Each participant maintained her individual schedule and traveled to her project to complete at least 6 hours of volunteering each week. Total cost: $17,400”