In the film "Ascend," Patagonia chronicles the journey of five Afghan women refugees in North Carolina.
Since August 15, 2021, the Taliban have taken over the capital of Afghanistan, Kabul. Life is no longer the same for men and women who are subject to the discriminatory laws of the Taliban, who impose an ultra-rigorous interpretation of Islam that excludes women from school and public spaces. In this context, practicing sports is obviously synonymous with taking immense risks for women who dare to defy the prohibitions.
For several years, the NGO "Ascend" has been helping Afghan women to emancipate themselves by teaching them to climb in the mountains of their country. When the Taliban arrived, Ascend became the only chance for these women to escape a regime that would restrict their freedom and their future. Many of them were able to leave the country and take advantage of the non-profit organization's network of volunteer hosts. Merryn Venugopal and Michelle Pellette, two members of Yosemite Search and Rescue, also offered to help host their fellow climbers in need.
They invited these Afghan expatriate women to spend a week in Yosemite where they were able to meet safely and enjoy the comfort of the climbing community. The short film "Ascend" recounts these encounters and the lives of these Afghan women. Unveiled by Patagonia, the 19-minute production follows five Afghan refugee women in North Carolina and highlights the work of the NGO Ascend, which has grown from a grassroots support role for Afghan women to an organization that evacuates and reintegrates refugee women into women's sports communities. Since its inception, 134 members of the organization have been evacuated from Afghanistan to ensure their safety from war and repression.