Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Safar.
Sara, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
In 2012, I was inspired to go from a California girl, who hated the cold and had never been camping, to a mountaineer, climbing the world’s tallest mountains for organizations that benefit women. My journey began as a personal challenge, but I quickly realized that if I could climb my own Everest, maybe I could inspire others to climb their own mountains.
I’m climbing the highest mountain on each continent to raise funds for several different causes. When I complete this challenge in July 2020, I will be the first Iranian woman in history to conquer The Seven Summits. My goal is to raise $1 per foot of elevation that I climb.
I have personally experienced what it was like to grow up in a country where it was illegal for me, as a woman, to attend a soccer game. This is just one of many reasons why I feel so compelled to advocate for organizations empowering women.
Today, I am a Post-Graduate student in Leadership and Change and a professor in Electrical Engineering, but a few years ago, my life looked very different. I was a typical Californian woman who had never slept in a tent and hated cold weather. I was an electrical engineer working for a large corporation.
One day at a seminar, a speaker suggested we think of a project that seemed impossible to do and commit to doing it. Someone behind me whispered something about trekking to the Mount Everest base camp. Before I knew it, I shouted out, “I am going to climb Everest!” As I heard those words coming out of my mouth, I couldn’t believe I said it, but I felt compelled to at least try.
I got home and googled, ‘How to climb Everest.’ I found a few informative websites and started training. A few months later, I decided it was time to get some real-life experience outdoors. I called my friends to see if anyone wanted to come climbing with me. Everyone said no, so I headed up Mount Baker, the highest mountain in California, alone.
Many things went wrong, and I was scared for my life as I endured the coldest night I had ever experienced, but I did it. I may not have made it to the summit, but I made it through the night and back down to the base safely. The experience taught me I could do difficult things and revealed that I had a lot more work to do to be ready for Everest…
THE TRANSFORMATION:
During my training and prepping period, I was introduced to the man who founded the organization Empower Nepali Girls. Upon hearing about the staggering amount of child marriage, human trafficking, and lack of education Nepali women and girls faced, I became involved with their organization.
When I first went to Nepal and met the girls, many had never met a woman engineer or even considered the possibility that a woman could climb mountains. I saw their eyes light up as I shared my stories with them. Their reaction lit a small spark in my mind, a glimmer of an idea, that what I was doing, whether it be in life or during my challenge, was affecting them and expanding the realm of possibility in their minds.
In April 2015, I was halfway up Everest on an ice ladder when a massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit. I clung to the ladder as car-sized ice boulders started toppling down around me. I was sure it was only a matter of time before one struck me. The roar of falling debris was deafening, and I struggled to breathe as I choked on thick clouds of snow. I did not think I would make it off that mountain. Many people in the base camp lost their lives that day, but we were spared.
After I was rescued from Everest, I went to one of the biggest cities in Nepal and witnessed the absolute devastation the earthquake had caused. My heart broke for the people of Nepal, especially the women and girls whom I had met. I went to them, and they shocked and inspired me with the amount of optimism and enthusiasm they had to continue their studies, even though their schools were heavily damaged.
I decided then to dedicate my next attempt to climb Everest to Empower Nepali Girls. I wanted to support their dreams and become a role model for girls all over the world, showing them it is possible to achieve their goals and go beyond their perceived limits.
MY NEW EVEREST:
The defining moments along my journey so far have not caused me to retreat, but instead, have inspired me to expand my ultimate goal. I’ll be climbing more mountains and challenging not only myself but everyone who believes that women and girls should have equal opportunities and freedoms to step forward and begin to face the challenge that is creating gender equality.
In the past 100 years, we have put a man on the moon, but we still have not climbed the mountain for gender equality. Sadly, we are still at the base camp in many areas of the world.
Support the organizations featured on this website or challenge yourself to conquer your own fears in service to women. Together, we can make a real difference in the lives of disenfranchised women and girls. Let’s not let our fears get in the way any longer. Let’s get climbing.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The earthquake:
In April 2015, I was halfway up Everest on an ice ladder when a massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit. I clung to the ladder as car-sized ice boulders started toppling down around me. I was sure it was only a matter of time before one struck me. The roar of falling debris was deafening, and I struggled to breathe as I choked on thick clouds of snow. I did not think I would make it off that mountain. Many people in the base camp lost their lives that day, but we were spared.
Fundraising:
For a shy person like me asking for money from perfect strangers is the hardest thing in the world. I had to learn how to speak publicly and how to push myself out of my comfort zone.
Convincing family:
In Persian culture like many cultures, women are not supposed to pursue their dreams. They are the first mothers and wives. I couldn’t live my life happily knowing that I had a chance to pursue my dreams and I didn’t, but I had to first convince my family which was challenging.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Climb Your Everest – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
As a mountain climber with zero experience before deciding to summit Everest, I encourage and empower young women to find their Everest and climb their Everest.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
-I’m looking forward to my next climb Denali. It’s number six out of seven.
-We are making a movie based on my story and my previous book.
-I’m looking forward to my new book coming out in March.
-I also just got divorced, and look forward to a new chapter in my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.climbyoureverest.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sara.safari.everest
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/sara.roma.90
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJZ8kpvydt8
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Above-Mountains-Shadow-Sara-Safari/dp/1516533216
Image Credit:
Andrew Hughes
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
