Introducing The Climbing Initiative Ambassadors

By The Climbing Initiative | September 16, 2020

The Climbing Initiative (TCI) is dedicated to supporting climbing communities worldwide. We do this work because we believe that rock climbing can empower individuals, create new sources of livelihood, and foster the development of a more sustainable and equitable world. As a part of this mission, we have created a platform for climbers and community leaders to shed light on their experiences with our sport. These stories hail from people all over the world who exemplify the growing and changing international climbing community, from Palestine to Greece to Malawi. 

While hearing these stories, we’ve met many people who share our vision of creating a more sustainable and equitable world through climbing. This led us to create an ambassadors program, through which we look forward to highlighting and supporting individuals who are using the sport as a means to invest in their communities. We look to them as emerging leaders representing a new wave in the expansion of climbing around the world. We are happy to announce our first two ambassadors: Peter Naituli and Prerna Dangi.

Peter Naituli

Peter Naituli is a Kenyan climber with Norwegian ties. He developed a passion for adventure, wildlife, and eventually climbing through his childhood spent among the untamed wilderness in Kenya. Peter received his introduction to climbing through years working as a guide on Mount Kenya. Over the past seven years, he has developed a range of interests in climbing from long and complex objectives at high elevations to the simplicity of bouldering and rock climbing at lower elevations. He enjoys both solo climbing as well as a day on the rocks with his community.

Recently, Peter has been exploring video documentation of his adventures and writing both fiction and experiential stories. He is currently working to further evolve his personal skills in the sport. His major goal is to inspire growth in the climbing and outdoor community, primarily in countries like Kenya where outdoor sports are still a very foreign concept to the local populations. Peter strongly believes in finding ways to increase opportunities and support for individuals that demonstrate talent and passion but lack the resources to go further, as this is the main thing holding back Kenyan athletes of any discipline.

Prerna Dangi

Prerna Dangi is a climber from India who is pushing the limits on rock, ice, and everything in between. Based out of Delhi, she works as an outdoor guide. Prerna has gained experience climbing around the world, but her focus is the Himalayas. As an aspiring alpinist, she has delved into all aspects of climbing, from high mountains and frozen waterfalls to hard sport grades and bouldering.

Prerna is actively working to foster a strong climbing culture and community in India with an emphasis on introducing more women to the sport and the outdoors through the organization Climb Like A Woman (CLAW). She also plays a key role in the community-led initiative Piti Dharr Ice Climbing Festival.  As an ambassador for the social enterprise Eco Femme, she advocates healthy and sustainable menstrual practices in the remote villages around places she visits for climbing. Climbing gives her the courage to chase after all things that seem hard, whether they are scary routes or stereotypes, which is a lesson she loves sharing with others along the way.

The Climbing Initiative is excited to be joining forces with these two climbers and friends. We look forward to supporting them in their aims of diversifying the stories shared about climbing around the world and promoting the expansion of our sport.

Follow Peter and Prerna on Instagram (@afro_vertical and @thepahadigirl) to learn more about how they are harnessing climbing as a tool for positive change.