Kanchhi Maya Tamang is the first Tamang woman to reach the summit of Everest and the first to use the achievement to protest against human trafficking, stating: “We are people, not property”.
A trafficking survivor herself, Tamang headed an all-female climbing group of six Nepalese women. They began climbing Everest from its southern flank on the Nepali side of the mountain. By conquering the world's highest summit, standing at 8848 meters, the climbers said they have proven to the world that women can take on any challenge, as the climb required intense physical and mental preparation to face climatic conditions that were both extreme and unpredictable. While most of the women had grown up in mountainous areas, long preparation was still necessary to ready them for the harsh climate, the lack of oxygen, low pressure and extreme cold. Suitable equipment was also essential to deal with these conditions.
The expedition, supported by UN Women Nepal, also aimed to draw attention to women’s empowerment and gender equality in sports in the region. "For many Nepali women and girls, there is an invisible Everest between their homes and the sports field. I have climbed Everest to empower women who are climbing their own mountains," she said. Once they reached the summit, the mountain climbers were able to take in the extraordinary panoramic view from the top of Mount Everest, and said of the experience, “We felt that we reached heaven; truly, we felt like we were in heaven.”
The team received support from Essilor Sun Solution and from the Sherpa Shepherds association.
