IN AN EFFORT TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN -
From November 3-13, 2013, an independent, self-funded, all-female team of 12 women from Singapore and Europe will embarking on a 10 day trek, across a politically charged region of the Middle East, in an effort to raise awareness and funds for women survivors of war, victims of human trafficking, and rape.
Under the banner of Women on a Mission - a non-profit entity, based in Singapore, which combines challenging expeditionary travel with the support of humanitarian causes and the charity Women for Women International in particular - we will travel to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, across the mountainous region of Wadi Rum, also called the Valley of the Moon. Wadi Rum is well known for its connection with British officer and adventurer T.E. Lawrence, often referred to as Lawrence of Arabia, who passed through this region several times during the Arab Revolt of 1917-18.
Following close on the heels of our successful campaign to Everest Base Camp in Nepal last November 2012, this next Women on a Mission trek will, in contrast, be taking place in the midst of very different landscapes and temperatures. This being said, the journey will be equally challenging, and for this expedition, we have chosen to partner with UK based Secret Compass, pioneers in adventurous travel, founded by ex-British military officers of Her Majesty's Forces Parachute Regiment, who have helped put together a very challenging trek for us.
Our team's journey will begin in Amman, the capital of Jordan, and continue on to Wadi Rum, following the magical trail of the Bedouin people of the deserts of the Rakebat Canyon. We will camp en route, and continue to travel in a majestic and otherworldly land of dunes and jagged red-rose rocks. The trek will include an average of 6 to 7 hours of hard hiking per day, under blistering heat, on a multitude of terrains, and will culminate with the scaling of the steep rocky facade of Jebel Um Adaam, the highest mountain in Jordan, located near the border of Saudi Arabia. (Some basic rock climbing skills will be necessary for this part of the journey, and for those based in Singapore, we will have to take a course as part of our training.)
Historically, Jordan has played a pivotal role in the struggle for power in the Middle East. Its significance in this campaign is of great importance, as not only is it strategically located at the crossroads of what Christians, Jews and Muslims call the Holy Land, extending into the historic region of Palestine, at the heart of an area that has been at war since the dawn of time, but also because Jordan has strived to play a noteworthy role in brokering peace between governments at war, in this volatile powder keg of a region for over half a century.
By trekking in this part of the world, we hope to bring international attention to the need for societies, governments and corporations to get involved and help end violence against women, not just victims of war, but also victims of human trafficking and rape. The team passionately feels this reality can no longer be tolerated, in any form, in any context, and by anyone around the globe.
Ultimately, our objective is to inspire women to want to leave their comfort zone, their families and homes for a certain period of time, while pushing their limits in an effort to rally support for a worthy cause. At the core of our culture is a passion for adventure and a deep respect and love of nature. We seek to travel and explore the world, and as a result make new discoveries, flourish as individuals, and most important, contribute to society, while championing the cause of women around the world.
