Introducing the Climbing Leadership Fund
By Rob Kyte | June 13, 2022
The Climbing Initiative is excited to announce the launch of our Climbing Leadership Fund (CLF) to equip climbing community leaders around the world.
Those in the climbing sphere know that knowledge of best practices is often transferred in two ways: 1) experienced mentors who share their knowledge with others, and 2) local courses centered around specific climbing skills and practical knowledge. However, the growth of the sport is drastically outpacing the availability of such resources. As a result, while there exists great potential in climbing leaders around the world, there is a significant disparity in access to opportunities for experiential growth and learning.
The CLF aims to bridge this gap by pooling resources from those who wish to support the sustainable and equitable growth of climbing worldwide. This way, donations will directly benefit those who have traditionally faced additional barriers, such as women, People of Color, and those from regions other than the United States and Europe.
Thus, we are thrilled to introduce our first round of CLF recipients:
Prerna Dangi, co-founder of Climb Like a Woman (CLAW), based in India, which aims to create a positive space through the means of climbing where women can learn, grow, and get inspired in an unbiased and encouraging environment.
Liz Ndindi and Nyamzy Giati, leaders of Climbing Life Kenya, a woman-led non-profit dedicated to accessible climbing and connecting Kenyans to the sport.
(Left) Prerna Dangi; (Right, top to bottom) Liz Ndindi and Nyamzy Giati
With your support through the CLF, these leaders will receive professional training, including an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) course, to strengthen their climbing and safety skills in order to share the knowledge in their respective communities and build a future where climbing is more inclusive.
But they can’t do it without your help. U.S. visa fees, training fees, living expenses, and airfare stand in between this group of incredibly talented women and access to the safety certifications and leadership training that will help them grow their communities. Thus, The Climbing Initiative asks that you please consider donating to our Climbing Leadership Fund, so that we may support these women along their journeys to change the climbing world for the better.
Our hope is that we can continue to provide funding through the CLF to more leaders in the future, and ultimately support in-country trainings to increase climbing access around the globe.