Dubai duo to scale summit for Syrian kids
dubai — UAE residents and trekking partners Olga, 27, a commodities trader and Mohamad, 30, export manager are stepping up their efforts to make the dreams of Syrian kids a reality.
Around six months ago, Emirates Red Crescent volunteers opened a small learning centre in Dubai Festival City for kids who recently moved here from Syria. Most of them have missed years of education and were unable to enter the local schools.
The duo that believes strongly in giving back to the society will be climbing the highest peak in South America — Mount Aconcagua — to create awareness about this temporary school. They will begin their 20 days climb on February 12.
Since the learning centre is running on donations and volunteers’ support, they are constantly in need of basic stationery items: notebooks, A4 papers, colourful pens, pencils, sketching books and etc. Mohamad and Olga have also started a stationery campaign so that everyone can become a part of this by donating whatever stationery items they can give to these kids. Explaining how the centre works, Olga told Khaleej Times: “The idea of this centre that has enrolled 120 socially displaced Syrian kids is to teach them the basic knowledge and adaptation, to allow them to pass the entry exams and be accepted to the UAE schools. It is a tough and intense one-year programme, both academically and socially. These children have lost their parents, their homes, their country to the war. But one thing they all haven’t lost is the hope for a better life.”
The team
Mohamad and Olga are aiming to climb seven summits — the highest points of each continent — and dedicate it to charities. The duo, hailing from completely different backgrounds, cultures and having different native languages, said the one idea that unites them is that they combine what they love (sport) with a good cause as they believe in giving back to the society. The two have already run charity campaigns for people in the UAE, Syria, Pakistan, Lebanon and African countries, in the last three years.
The challenge
The pair is aiming to reach the top of Mt Aconcagua in about 18-20 days. In the past, the two have climbed Mt Kilimanjaro (in 2016, almost 6,000 metres) and Mt Elbrus (in 2017, almost 5,700 metres). Mt Aconcagua will be the first mountain where they will cross their previous record of 6,000 metres. Mt Aconcagua is the highest mountain outside Asia at 6,960.8 metres, and the highest point in both the western and southern hemispheres.
Talking about the training they underwent for the climb, Olga said: “On that altitude, every 100 metres make a difference, every next step has lesser oxygen and every day you will be carrying 15-20 kg on your back for 5-10 hours, so you need to seriously train for this.
“For the last three months, we have been spending every morning in the gym, every evening on the running or cycling track and every weekend on local hikes — Ras Al Khaimah, Oman etc.”
But the physical training is just a small part of the success. What also matters a lot is mental strength, the duo said. “I truly believe that the right mindset is the way to success. Up there in the cold, with altitude pressure and without basic amenities, it can be quite easy to give up. What motivates us and keeps us going is the idea of doing it to help others,” Olga added.
How can you help?
From February 6 until February 28, the pair is placing donations boxes at the Times Square Centre and are inviting people to pass by anytime between 10am to 10pm and donate stationery items. People living in far-off areas or other emirates, or those cannot physically come here to donate, can use Uber UAE for a free pick-up and drop-off service on February 27 and 28.
saman@khaleejtimes.com
It is a tough and intense one-year programme, both academically and socially. These children have lost their parents, their homes, their country to the war. But one thing they all haven’t lost is the hope for better life.” Olga, 27