From the 93 to Kilimanjaro
A life-changing adventure
A No Wasted Days™ Story
Last year eight women from France came together with their sights on Mt. Kilimanjaro—they strove to be the first all-women team from the Seine-Saint-Denis region of Paris to climb the peak. Partnering with APART, an organization bringing outdoor adventures to youth with limited access to outdoor sports, these women were given the resources to take on the highest summit in Africa. No one in the group had ever climbed a mountain in their life, and when the trip was done, everyone reached the summit.
“To be a girl from the 93 (the Seine-Saint-Denis neighbourhood of Paris) automatically shuts a lot of doors for you—you got to fight 10 times harder. This adventure, for me, is a way to break through those prejudices and obstacles.” -Rayanne, APART participant
There are many reasons young people might not have access to outdoor sports—from financial limits or awareness of what’s out there, to physical proximity and stigmas—and APART targets all these reasons in its work. The group organizes climbing, trekking, and other outdoor sport trips in France and abroad for groups of youth every year, as they have for 15 years.
“If you look around, we’re a bit of an atypical group. The objective was to introduce the mountain to people who were foreign to mountain sports, and who were not expected to take part in these challenges.” -Wafat, APART participant
Arc’teryx has partnered with APART for over three years, and we support the efforts to introduce the mountains to young people across the globe.
The Kilimanjaro trip of 2023 highlighted the impact APART can have on the underserved populations in and around Paris. The women who carry this summit in their memories now move through their lives with greater momentum and stronger bonds than before—and that is the goal for every young person APART can take into the mountains.
“Whoever wants to access the mountains should do so. In fact, daring to establish yourself in such a new environment should encourage you to take your place wherever you wish.” -Dorothée, APART coach and project leader
Whoever wants to access the mountains should do so. In fact, daring to establish yourself in such a new environment should encourage you to take your place wherever you wish.
