© Millennium Relief and Development Services

© Ascend © Naturevolution

TRAINING FOR MAKAY

ENVIRONMENTAL RANGERS AND

TRACKERS

Since 2009, Naturevolution has been

exploring and protecting the Makay

mountain range in southwest Madagascar.

Among the last unexplored zones on

the island, it’s a haven for a rich biodiversity.

Alongside and for the local community,

the organization implements sustainable

social projects to develop economic

alternatives and conservation.

In 2021, Naturevolution developed

a theoretical and practical guide training

program for local trackers and environmental

rangers in the Makay region. They play

a central role in protecting the forest and

raising visitor awareness.

Support: €8,000 and gear donation

CONFIDENCE THROUGH CLIMBING

Ascend, Leadership through Athletics is an

organization that offers training for climbing

and other mountain sports to young women

to help them build self-conf idence.

The program began in Afghanistan in 2014.

Since the return of the Taliban to power

in August 2021, the organization has been

operating in Pakistan.

In 2023, ten women between the ages of

15 and 25, participated in the training with

instructors from the organization. Among

them, f ive completed the full course and will

now be able to train more than thirty recruits

in 2024.

Support from the Petzl Foundation funded

the gear for participants and transportation

to the training facility.

Support: €6,900

SUPPORTING YOUNG REFUGEES IN

KURDISTAN

Millennium Relief and Development Services

helps refugees from Kurdistan, Iraq, and

Syria and traumatized by the civil war and

persecution. They offer climbing-based

therapy to provide young people with relief

from trauma, improve their psychological

health and restore their conf idence in the

midst of a challenging daily life. Since 2017,

close to 700 young people from age 8 to

25 have participated in a climbing course.

Support: €3,200 (gear donation)

THE PETZL FOUNDATION

Commitments Without Borders

Every year, the Petzl Foundation

supports international projects

to help communities in need or to

improve safety in the vertical world.

GEAR FOR THE RESCUE TEAM IN EL

POTRERO CHICO

A climbing destination in eastern Mexico,

El Potrero Chico is one of the largest

climbing areas in the Americas, with over

600 routes, many of which are multi-pitch.

Trained in rope rescue and given specif ic

equipment, the volunteer-based El Potrero

Chico Rescue Team was formed to come

to the aid of climbers in need of rescue.

Unfortunately, in the summer of 2022 their

facility was broken into and all their rescue

gear was stolen. The Petzl Foundation

provided them with a new and complete

donation to replace the gear so that the

team could continue their mission.

The Petzl distributor in Mexico sent two

professional instructors for three days to

train the group in technical team rescue

on multi-pitch climbs.

Support: €7,500 (gear donation)