Seven Summits Women Team, which is the first female team in the world to climb the highest mountain in each continent, shared their journey of grit and achievement in Jamshedpur. Shailee Basnet (31), Asha Kumari Singh(28), Prema Diki Sherpa(27), Maya Gurung(35) and Nimdoma Sherpa(24), all members of Kathmandu-based 7 Summits Women Team participated in the orientation programme at SNTI Auditorium, Bistupur.
District Governor team with Rajeev Ranjan, Kanchan Singh, Rajnish Kumar and Past District Governor Sudipto Mukherjee were present on the occasion. The team said they have taken up the tough task of channelising the lives of girls who have fallen victims to trafficking in Nepal. Besides Everest, which they conquered in 2008, most of the team members have also scaled some of the world’s tallest peaks. Two others of the 7-member outfit Chunu Shrestha and Pujan Acharya and did not accompany the team to Jamshedpur.
Formed in 2007, the 7 Summits Women Team has so far trained and brought seven girls to the mainstream. “It is really challenging task. We have trained girls and helped them become trekking and river rafting guides. All have become self-independent and are no longer looked upon as survivors of trafficking,” said Shailee.
Maya(35), who scaled Mt Kilimanjaro(19,340 ft) in 2013 and Vinson Masiff(16,050 ft) in 2014 said: “As part of the women empowerment campaign we have shown the world what we have all the potential. We are empowering women through outdoor activities. We all are very inspired by India’s first women to scale Everest Bachendri Pal.”
The team with the message ‘Together We Reach Higher’ and spreading education, empowerment, and environment through outdoors globally, they have scaled Mt Everest in Asia, Mt Kosciuszko in Australia, Mt Elbrus in Europe, Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mt Aconcagua in South America, Mt Denali in North America, Mt Vinson Massif in Antarctica and soon they will embark upon climbing Mt Vinson Massif Antarctica, Carstenz Pyramid in Oceania, the South Pole & the North Pole.
Hailing from six diverse ethnic backgrounds each have a story of challenge, struggle and success. One ran away from home at the age of 14 to escape marriage arranged by family. Another was deemed too ugly to find decent husband and hence sent to school to become self-reliant. In a journey starting as part of the historic ‘First Inclusive Women Sagarmatha Expedition 2008 Spring’, the team like an epic story has climbed successfully in all seven continents despite various socio-economic challenges.
Encouraged with the most successful women’s expedition to ever summit Mt Everest in May 2008 with all members making it to the top of the world, a rare feat in any mountaineering expedition.