By Kelly Pokharel | Director of Operations
Afghanistan: Your support is giving young women and girls confidence and motivation to not give up on themselves and their dreams
Ascend has given me hope and a new perspective in life.Through the program…I’ve learned to believe in myself, to set goals and to keep moving forward - even when it’s hard. Now I no longer ask if I can do something. I ask what I [can do] next to become the best version of myself.” - Roqia
Our fifth cohort of 50 girls has completed the four-month Strong Healthy Empowered (SHE) Program, which equips participants with life skills that bolster communication, leadership, self-confidence, mental health, and body awareness.
Building on this success, our new Entrepreneurship Program launched in January 2025; 80 women have already completed the one-month course, with many leveraging their new knowledge to launch businesses that provide both income and self-determination.
Meanwhile, our advanced leadership team—more than 270 SHE graduates and counting—continues to refine their professional skills, maintain healthy lives, and deliver hundreds of hours of community engagement sessions. Their outreach ensures that entire communities benefit from Ascend’s health and wellness training.
Pakistan: Growing the Next Generation of Women Instructors
This spring, we welcomed eight new instructor trainees who are literally and figuratively learning the ropes of becoming Ascend instructors. This fall, these trainees will take the lead in delivering the afterschool program, reaching even more girls across the region.
In addition to expanding our instructional team, Pakistani instructor Zeba made headlines this past spring by summiting a 6,000-meter peak alongside an all male team from her home village. Zeba credits her Ascend training for both the physical readiness to summit and the mental fortitude required to be the expedition’s sole woman—an inspiring example of what confidence, skill, and opportunity can achieve.
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