Adnan Al-Fermli
Syrian living in Spain.
Adnan was 14 years old when he was shot in the back by a sniper in Syria and has been wheelchair bound ever since. After two years in a deep depression, Adnan pulled himself out of depression by throwing himself into sports. He has completed numerous marathons and has his sights set on the Paralympics.
The message I want to give is that nothing is impossible in this world.
Tania Tverdoklib
Ukrainian living in Italy.
When the Russians started bombing, Tania’s village was among the first locations heavily targeted. She, her mother and neighbors spend more than a month sheltering underground in a tiny vegetable cellar. Seven of her friends were killed in the first months of the war. Her dorm room and all her belongings were destroyed in a direct hit. Tania managed to escape to Italy, but her mother refused to leave.
I am coming to Kilimanjaro to show that you don’t have to surrender no matter what happens in life. Life continues, and there is always space to live.
Shaqayeq Ebrahimkil
Afghan living in Germany
Shaqayeq’s father was killed in Afghanistan before she was born. Her mother is a prominent Afghan journalist who was on the Taliban kill list. After narrowly surviving a Taliban attack on her TV station, Shaqayeq’s mother decided they had to flee their homeland. Shaqayeq, who was 13 at the time, her two older brothers, and mothers would join the hundereds of thousands making the journey on foot from Turkey to Germany.
Life in Afghanistan taught me that I should be a strong woman. I am doing this for the women and girls of Afghanistan.
We are a generation that is deep in hopelessness, we are still searching for hope. And inside that hopelessness, we are still living and love life.
Safa Loujain Al-Sinan
Syrian living in Lebanon.
Safa was 12 years old when she was horrifically burned while trying to rescue her siblings after the home they were living in in Lebanon caught fire. Safa was burning for fifteen minutes before a neighbor was able to put out the flames. She has since stood up to bullies, finished school, and is the first member of her family to attend university.
I want to show people that despite everything that happened to me, I face life head on, I am happy just like everyone else. I am a strong person.
Mostafa Salameh
The team is led by professional mountaineer, Mostafa Salameh, himself born a refugee in Kuwait to Palestinian parents
Mostafa Salameh is one of only 20 people to ever climb the Seven Summits and conquer the South Pole and the North Pole – known as the ‘Explorers Grand Slam.’ Born in Kuwait to Palestinian refugee parents, it was never Mostafa’s intention to become a climber. His mountaineering journey began in 2004 following a vivid dream with spiritual intervention.
Today Mostafa combines his sporting career with speaking roles. A large part of his time is passionately invested in inspiring and motivating children, youths and adults into realizing their own dreams.
Adnan Al-Fermli
Syrian living in Spain.
Adnan was 14 years old when he was shot in the back by a sniper in Syria and has been wheelchair bound ever since. After two years in a deep depression, Adnan pulled himself out of depression by throwing himself into sports. He has completed numerous marathons and has his sights set on the Paralympics.
The message I want to give is that nothing is impossible in this world.
Tania Tverdoklib
Ukrainian living in Italy.
When the Russians started bombing, Tania’s village was among the first locations heavily targeted. She, her mother and neighbors spend more than a month sheltering underground in a tiny vegetable cellar. Seven of her friends were killed in the first months of the war. Her dorm room and all her belongings were destroyed in a direct hit. Tania managed to escape to Italy, but her mother refused to leave.
I am coming to Kilimanjaro to show that you don’t have to surrender no matter what happens in life. Life continues, and there is always space to live.
Shaqayeq Ebrahimkil
Afghan living in Germany.
Shaqayeq’s father was killed in Afghanistan before she was born. Her mother is a prominent Afghan journalist who was on the Taliban kill list. After narrowly surviving a Taliban attack on her TV station, Shaqayeq’s mother decided they had to flee their homeland. Shaqayeq, who was 13 at the time, her two older brothers, and mothers would join the hundereds of thousands making the journey on foot from Turkey to Germany.
Life in Afghanistan taught me that I should be a strong woman. I am doing this for the women and girls of Afghanistan.
We are a generation that is deep in hopelessness, we are still searching for hope. And inside that hopelessness, we are still living and love life.
Safa Loujain Al-Sinan
Syrian living in Lebanon.
Safa was 12 years old when she was horrifically burned while trying to rescue her siblings after the home they were living in in Lebanon caught fire. Safa was burning for fifteen minutes before a neighbor was able to put out the flames. She has since stood up to bullies, finished school, and is the first member of her family to attend university.
I want to show people that despite everything that happened to me, I face life head on, I am happy just like everyone else. I am a strong person.
Mostafa Salameh
The team is led by professional mountaineer, Mostafa Salameh, himself born a refugee in Kuwait to Palestinian parents
Mostafa Salameh is one of only 20 people to ever climb the Seven Summits and conquer the South Pole and the North Pole – known as the ‘Explorers Grand Slam.’ Born in Kuwait to Palestinian refugee parents, it was never Mostafa’s intention to become a climber. His mountaineering journey began in 2004 following a vivid dream with spiritual intervention.
Today Mostafa combines his sporting career with speaking roles. A large part of his time is passionately invested in inspiring and motivating children, youths and adults into realizing their own dreams.
DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER: ARWA DAMON, SYRIAN-AMERICAN
DIRECTOR
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: RASHA MUBARAK, EMIRATI
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: CAMERON WILLIAMS, NEW ZEALANDER
CINEMATOGRAPHER: LEONARDO AVEZZANO, ITALIAN
EDITOR: UMUT SAKALLIOĞLU, TURKISH
Co-EDITOR: FEYZA KAYIKCI, TURKISH
ORIGINAL SCORE: PABLO URANGA, BRAZILIAN
SOUND DESIGN: SRDJAN KURPJEL, SERBIAN
CLOSING SONG: EMMANUEL JAL, SOUTH SUDANESE-CANADIAN
This is the result of what happens when a love of mountains collides with a war correspondent who has a charity, is willing to toss her career for a passion project, and decides to shoot a documentary in six countries in eight weeks.