Ascend: Forced to flee the Taliban, Afghan women find a home in climbing | Patagonia Films

Mina Bakhshi, Haniya Tavasoli and Rabia Hussain had a fair amount of latitude for women in Afghanistan, able to pursue their education, go to work, and explore hobbies and interests. Joining Ascend, a nonprofit organization teaching leadership and rock climbing to women, gave them the chance to test their personal and cultural limits and explore the mountains of their home country. But when the Taliban took over in August 2021, Ascend became their one chance to escape a regime that would restrict their freedoms and future.
While the women of Ascend were being resettled in other countries with volunteer host families from Ascend’s network-often other climbers wanting to help-Merryn Venugopal and Michelle Pellette, two members of Yosemite Search and Rescue, were also looking to find ways to support fellow climbers in need. They invited the women to spend a week in Yosemite, where they could safely reunite and find solace in the climbing community. Now, as they build new lives in a country separated from their families, the women find that meeting other climbers in Yosemite is also a connection to home.
Read the story: pat.ag/AfarinStoryYT
Directed & Produced by
Kathryn Francis & Campbell Brewer
Executive Producers
Alex Lowther
Monika McClure
Justin Roth
Featuring
Mina Bakhshi
Haniyan Tavasoli
Rabia Hussain
Raihana Ahmady
Sughra Yazdani
Marina LeGree
Batool Behnam
Merryn Venugopal
Michelle Pellette
Alison Kaplan
Director of Photography
Campbell Brewer
Edited by
Campbell Brewer
Will Lee
Mattias Evangelista
Original Music
Sanders Bohlke
Graphics
Ben Blanchard
Title Artwork
Afsoon Talai
00:00 Start
00:09 Afghanistan
00:46 One Year Later
02:20 Yosemite
4:00 Merryn & Michelle
5:20 Climbing
8:35 “You don’t have a choice.”
9:44 Ascend
14:29 “neither walls nor gates”
17:28 Where Are They Now?
18:48 Credits
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At Patagonia, we appreciate that all life on earth is under threat of extinction. We’re using the resources we have-our business, our investments, our voice and our imaginations-to do something about it.

[@rezaeqbal2678]

Very proud of my little sis, Mina and all other Afghan brave girls. They all are HEROES 💪🏼

[@JustinRoth]

So much respect for everyone who helped make this trip and film possible. Awesome!

[@walterwadlow9438]

Thank you for this film! These young women are incredible, and Ascend does such important work! A couple of years ago, for my 63rd birthday, my family, friends, and I did a funny little climbing video for a Facebook Fundraiser and we were able to raise $2,000 for Ascend. I am grateful to Patagonia Films for helping increase the visibility of these much needed efforts.

[@IvanHadlich]

This is what life is about, congrats to everyone who worked behind the scenes and to Patagonia for the wonderful job. I was watching it on my cellphone but I had to stop and watch it on my TV so I could appreciate the work.

[@patagonia]

Thank you!

[@jon-williammurphy9780]

A friend join Yosar last year and I was lucky enough to hang out with the team for a bit. I can honestly say they are legit heroes. Merryn and Mich are so badass and so humble. They were so nice and welcoming. So happy to see them featured cause they do so much good.

[@caitkooistra2800]

What an amazing film. These girls are the future!

[@smurkytoons]

THIS is a climbing doc. SO rad!!

[@travelfilmschool]

Thanks for this documentary Patagonia

[@bradgantt1818]

So much respect for these women, Ascend, and all of the people involved in this effort.

[@dorishuang5033]

Such a powerful film

[@jazminsalas2613]

Gracias siempre por la inspiración, con mucho amor desde Argentina

[@Farmerhans]

Being in Afghanistan for some years as a foreigner, it’s so difficult to explain what it is to find in this country beyond the war and the violence. Afghanistan changes you. Forever.

[@marilynwargo6288]

Thank you for this film! Theseq young women have great energy and desire to learn. 💙

[@sandyisdandy-ou9uk]

Thank you for this beautiful film.

[@JackyGuerrero]

Such a beautiful video, am left speechless and inspired by these young women.

[@user-dv7uh6bg3j]

Amazing! Thanks to Ascend NGO!

[@chelseajolly7491]

What a truly beautiful film and team of people. Incredible work!

[@aisyaabdulhalim6854]

May they reach new heights! Very well captured as well.

[@geraltlamb9566]

It is something way more than climbing now! ❤

[@garvae]

Thank you guys for this video and for your inspiring choice to be free and safe ❤

[@kathrinpeters8567]

These women are so inspiring. Lots of love ❤

[@verenalohner2186]

What a inspiring project! All my respect for these wonderful brave and bold women!

[@DorHBoomer]

Another great film by Patagonia. So glad the ladies are here and best of luck to them in their studies! :)

[@goldenoctober]

Wow, that was powerful. Thank you!

[@conorrarelysends]

Beautiful!!

[@sage_taber]

Beautiful. I aspire to make films like this! I'm heading to NYU for an MA in Near Eastern Studies in the fall, I'd love to connect with Mina :)

[@saumyasharma6270]

This is amazing :) y'all are so badass - amazing to see other women and people of color kick butt

[@gaelenkilburn855]

This is so cool ❤

[@mattmarcroft8931]

Wonderful.

[@kurtbaehmann5056]

Absolutely love this, so much courage!

[@ClayKicker]

Awesome and really interesting video thanks congratulations

[@patagonia]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@tamarab3012]

What an amazing project!

[@itshollyw959]

Absolutely amazing ❤

[@ADailyDream]

Really inspiring

[@cristiansoutside]

I think I heard about this on your dirtbag diaries podcast!

[@ClayKicker]

Is wakhan corridor really good for climbing?

[@malcolmthompson597]

The Taliban are actually anti-Islam. I hope these ladies find safety and peace.

[@samshepperrd]

Sometimes "refugee" status is obvious. The ideal outcome would be for they to return to at least visit Afghanistan without fear some day.

[@marcoangeletti_]

I left a piece of me in that land and what happened to these persons it's a shame. Thanks to everyone involved in project like this, you're awesome! 🫶