“Girls in Action” on tour
On the eve of International Women’s Day, Mountain Wilderness Italy, Region Lazio, organised a public meeting in Rome to illustrate the initiatives of the Asian desk of Mountain Wilderness International in Pakistan. The event opened with short speeches by Mountain Wilderness Italy, ISMEO (International Association for Mediterranean and Oriental Studies) and Mountain Partnership – FAO. These two organisations, together with Banca Sella and CAAI (Italian Academic Alpine Club), supported Mountain Wilderness throughout all the phases of the Swat Project.
The highlight of the evening was the screening of a documentary – by young director Claudia Chiella – on the ‘Swat Girls in Action!’ all-women course held last year. Great interest was also aroused by the testimonies of Francesca Colesanti and Chiara Delpino, two of the five mountaineering instructors of the course, as well as the reading of a moving letter sent by one of the best trainees.
The topics of the evening then turned to the various strategies developed by Mountain Wilderness International to promote the establishment of a vast protected mountain area in the northern part of Swat. Among these, the organisation of many long exploratory treks for seven consecutive years, in preparation for the now imminent publication of a sustainable mountaineering/hiking guide to that fascinating mountain region.
Afterwards, two instructors from GARS mountaineering school of Società Alpina delle Giulie in Trieste explained their plans to conduct a light mountaineering/exploratory expedition to Upper Swat next September, with the aim of opening challenging climbing routes on a gigantic and virgin granite wall known as the ‘Diwangar Shield’.
Last but not least, it was the turn of IISUMOD (International Institute for Sustainable Mountain Development), whose president illustrated their humanitarian activities in Nepal.
At the end of the event, gifts donated by Ferrino were raffled off among all those present.
Among the many guests who for various reasons were unable to attend but sent their expressions of support, we’d like to mention His Excellency Ali Javed, Ambassador of Pakistan to Italy, Gabriella Suzanne Vanzan, President of Mountain Wilderness International, Mauro Penasa, President of the Italian Academic Alpine Club, Dacia Maraini and Grazia Francescato.
The evening was presented and directed by Gian Luca Ugolini, head of the Region Lazio within the Italian chapter of Mountain Wilderness, as well as Carlo Alberto Pinelli, Honorary President of Mountain Wilderness International, in charge of the Asian Desk.