Women on a Mission
Empowering females facing the most challenging circumstances.
It has been over a decade since the birth of Women on a Mission and when I reflect on my journey to date, one word encapsulates the essence of that mission: empowerment. Specifically, empowering women who have faced the most challenging circumstances in war-torn regions.
The core of Women on a Mission lies in the hundreds of remarkable women who have joined me and my co-founders, Valerie Boffy and Karine Moge, on challenging expeditions to some of the world’s most breath-taking locations. These women are not just fellow adventurers; they are champions of a cause. They voluntarily fund their travel expenses and actively participate in fundraising for our charity partners.
I firmly believe in the strength of women supporting women and the transformative impact it can have on our world. Our team’s efforts reach far beyond the borders of our expeditions, as we ctively contribute as advocates and role models to making the world a better place for women and girls. The dedication to our shared cause is a testament to the potential for positive change when individuals come together with a common purpose.
The women who have joined me on this journey share a common commitment: to support and empower women who have been subjected to violence and abuse. Inequality remains one of the central challenges of our time, with pervasive gender inequality bearing responsibility for the disproportionate impact of armed conflict, sexual violence, and economic crises on women. My teammates and I hold a deep passion for gender equality and female empowerment, firmly believing that corporations, governments, and society all bear responsibility for bridging the gender gap.
With women constituting half of the world’s population and steadily gaining economic power and influence, the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles remains a stark reality. Our advocacy primarily revolves around raising awareness, helping women comprehend their rights, and empowering them to build stronger livelihoods. Throughout our expeditions, my teammates and I have had the privilege of sharing deeply touching moments with women from various corners of the world. The opportunity to make a difference is indeed an honour, and by marrying my passion for adventure with my commitment to helping others, I have discovered a level of fulfilment and happiness that I had not deemed possible.
Ultimately, we aspire to encourage women to step far outside their comfort zones, their homes, and families, for a period, while pushing their limits to rally support for a noble cause. Our team seeks to make new discoveries and grow as individuals. Most importantly, we aim to give back to society. Violence against women and girls continues to be one of the biggest obstacles to equality, development, peace, and universal human rights. The promise of the sustainable development goals — to leave no one behind —remains unfulfilled without an end to violence against women and girls.
The first expedition to Everest Base Camp in 2012, a transformative and formative experience, served as the catalyst for Women on a Mission’s inception and began my advocacy journey for women. It ignited in me a thirst for growth, meaningful contributions, and exploration. I felt reborn and ready to embrace the thrilling journey ahead.
More than a decade has passed since our beginnings, and we’ve recently returned from our 12th expedition, this time to Namibia. There, we achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first all-female team to traverse the formidable Namib Desert on foot, all while continuing our dedicated efforts to raise essential funds and awareness for women survivors of war. While there, our team braved extreme temperatures to reach the desolate Atlantic coast through the Namib Desert, starting at the Kuiseb river and ending at the eerie Eduard Bohlen Shipwreck, a victim to the Skeleton Coast since 1909. Our final evening was spent beneath a canopy of breath-taking stars, beside a century-old shipwreck and amid seal colonies.
A highlight of the trip was spending a day with the women of Penduka Development Trust – a well-regarded social enterprise and training centre for less-privileged women in Namibia – the NGO provides opportunities for women to earn a sustainable income, improve their families’ livelihoods, and uplift their entire communities.
These years of dedication have underscored the profound impact that a small group of committed individuals can have on the world. We have not only transformed the lives of countless women but have also been transformed ourselves. In this ever-evolving journey, we have come to understand that growth and success thrive when we dare to take risks, confront challenges, and speak out against injustice. Women on a Mission’s enduring mission to empower women, foster gender equality, and eliminate violence against women and girls remains a beacon of hope in our world.
As we continue to embark on new adventures to support some of the most marginalised women in the world, we draw strength from the belief that a lifetime of happiness can be found in the lifelong pursuit of helping others.
Christine Amour-Levar is a French-Swiss-Filipina social entrepreneur, philanthropist, author, and climate investor. She has founded two NGOs: Women on a Mission and HER Planet Earth using the power of expeditionary travel to raise funds and awareness about critical issues disproportionately affecting women such as violence, economic crisis and climate change. www.christineamourlevar.com
