Program areas at The Global Climbing Initiative
Climbing Leadership Fund-(Largest Program)Through the Climbing Leadership Fund, we initiate projects hand-in-hand with local climbing communities to make a deep investment in the trajectory of their growth. In 2023, our two Climbing Leadership Fund partners were Climbing Life Kenya and Climb Malawi. Climbing Life Kenya sought safety education and mentorship training so that their leaders and volunteers could continue increasing access to climbing for other Kenyans. Climb Malawi sought the skills for local Malawians to autonomously develop climbing and lead their climbing organization. Supported by Organic climbing, Mountain Hardwear, Beyond Clothing and Sterling Rope, we built a 3-week program for our instructors to provide 92 hours of hands-on education in basic and advanced climbing skills, bolting, climbing photography, and organizational leadership.
In 2023, GCI established the Community Grants Program to help bring the visions of local climbing communities to life. We awarded 9 grants of up to $500 each in the following categories: Environmental, Creative, and Social Impact. Some of the intiatives we funded included rope skills and first aid education for indigenous honey harvestors in India, a bolt replacement workshop in Mexico, belay platforms for erosion mitigation in the Phillipines, a new women's climbing and bolting festival in Peru, waste management and environmental education in Ecuador, Leave No Trace Behind trainings in Mexico and a film on an inclusive community bolting education event in India.
Our Gear Distribution Program bolstered the success of 8 climbing organizations in Thailand, Kenya, Panama, Nepal, Malawi, Egypt, Brazil and Colombia this year. We distributed 418 pieces of bolting equipment, 25 climbing ropes, 54 carabiners, 128 articles of technical outdoor clothing, 73 units of cord/webbing, 27 harnesses, 32 helmets, 8 belay devices, 19 quickdraws, 23 backpacks, 15 chalk bags, 4 radios and 63 pairs of climbing shoes gathered from outdoor industry brands and individual donors. This equipment supported our global partners in their missions of increasing climbing access for underrepresented populations and preserving climbing environments.