With International Women's Day fast approaching Untamed Borders has updated us on their achievements in supporting grassroots projects for women around the world.
They have just returned from the Iraq Ski Rally in Kurdistan, an event they sponsor and take international tourists to annually.
The mixed gender sporting event in Choman is a highlight for female athletes in the region, where opportunities for women aren't as widespread as they are in the west.
The event was well supported once this year, with a dedicated women's race, and they will be organising a trip to the event next year too.
Later in 2024, they will also be continuing our work to support female trekking guides in Tajikistan. Untamed Borders supports a project, which is helping to train up the country's first female trekking guides, called 'Women Rockin' Pamirs'.
They work with female guides in a number of countries, where the role of women can often be subject to enormous hurdles in the workplace. They currently team up with women guides in Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria and Afghanistan – helping to develop and further the skills of the talented guides.
Afghanistan, in particular, is a country very close to their heart and one where women have faced enormous challenges over the past two years.
They have worked closely with the country's first female tour guide, Fatima Haidari, for a number of years. Fatima used to be their guide in the city of Herat in Afghanistan, before the Taliban retook control of the country.
Since then, Fatima has had to flee to safety in Europe and she now offers virtual tours of Afghanistan through Untamed Borders.
They continue to offer virtual tours with Fatima this year – with some of the proceeds going towards paying for underground schools for women, who are still stuck in Afghanistan and denied the right to conventional education.
Find out more about Untamed Borders at https://untamedborders.com/