OUR EXPEDITIONS
WOMEN ON A MISSION
NAMINIA DESERT CROSSING EXPEDITION
September 2023
In 2023, the 'Women on a Mission' (WOAM) expedition, comprised of 17 women from 12 different countries, made history by becoming the first all-female team to cross the Namib Desert entirely on foot. This effort marked the 12th such expedition organized by the Singapore-based non-profit WOAM, which aims to empower women survivors of war and violence. Over five days and six nights, they covered 144 kilometres and scaled a cumulative elevation of 4,188 meters while raising $70,000 for Women International – UK. This charity supports women in conflict zones such as Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Sudan, providing them with critical services like psychosocial support and vocational training. The journey featured challenging conditions and ended at the historic Eduard Bohlen Shipwreck on the Skeleton Coast. Post-expedition, the team visited Penduka in Namibia, a women's centre for survivors of domestic violence, further understanding and contributing to local women’s empowerment.
KYRGYSTAN TREKKING EXPEDITION
September 2022
Our team of 12 has recently returned from a breathtaking expedition to Kyrgyzstan, a landlocked country in Central Asia, which has been at the crossroads of several great civilisations as part of the Silk Road. We covered 156km in 7 days, trekking in and around the stunning snow peaked mountains of the Tian Shan range, close to the border of China and Kazakhstan at an altitude of 3,000 to 4,000 metres. During our journey, we discovered stunning alpine landscapes, crystal clear lakes and rolling pastures brought to life by nomadic, yurt-dwelling shepherds. In the process, we raised 60,000 USD for some of the most marginalised women in the world via one of our charity partners, Women for Women International.
One of this trip's highlights was meeting Byubyusara Ryskulova, the founder of the Sezim Crisis Centre in Bishkek, the capital. She shared the inspiring story of her work supporting women these past 24 years since the founding of her organisation in 1998. As of today, Sezim has provided safe refuge and legal advice to thousands of women affected by gender-based domestic violence and human trafficking.
MONGOLIA - TREKKING AND HORSE RIDING EXPEDITION
June 2018
A breathtaking expedition in the heart of Mongolia during which our WOAM team successfully summited two iconic peaks over 3,300 metres and galloped across the huge open plains on Nomadic Mongolian horses. Overall, the team has crossed 900 km of terrain on foot, on horseback and sturdy Russian minivans, dating back to the 1960s and endured bone-chilling temperatures of -17 degrees Celsius and 90km/h winds.
The expedition culminated with a visit of the NCAV, or the Centre Against Violence in Ulaanbaatar, where the team met the devoted social workers stationed there and the women and children, survivors of domestic violence, who are temporarily housed in their shelters.
INDONESIA JUNGLE TREKKING EXPEDITION
November 2019
Imagine a place with no mobile network, no electricity, and no cash economy. A place where people only use what they find in the jungle surrounding them and, even then, ask permission to its spirits before they take what they need. Our WOAM team was fortunate enough to stay with the Sakkudei tribe at Siberut Island in Indonesia. It was real, raw and humbling to be there and experience a way of life so different from our own hectic ones. We hiked for hours through a maze of dense and humid jungle, our local guide opening the path before us with his machete. We crossed streams and kept on walking with our clothes and shoes soaking wet. We slept in a wooden Uma (community house) amidst rows of animal skulls, bathed in the river, fished and prepared food with the women and tasted the local delicacy - life sago worms. We had the privilege to witness our guide Aman Ipai sharing knowledge chanting at night with fellow shamans.
The sense of community the tribe shows, as well as their harmony with nature, was inspirational to us all. We learned that not many words are needed for humans to bond and brought back a renewed conviction to protect the way of life of indigenous people like the Sakkudei and the rainforest they live in.
Crossing the Danakil Depression was the most gruelling expedition we’ve undertaken to-date, 200km in 6 days over contrasting terrain from sand, sulphuric acid and salt, to bush, lava and volcanic rock with debilitating temperatures reaching up to 50 degrees Celsius at midday.
Being in Africa gave us the opportunity to fly to neighbouring Rwanda and witness first-hand the work of Women for Women International - UK (WfWI). We raise and donate between USD50,000 and USD100,000 annually to WfWI allowing over 800 women each year to go through such a programme in Rwanda and other war-torn regions where WfWI operates.
ETHIOPIA - MOUNTAIN BIKING EXPEDITION
November 2017
ANOTHER MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! Eleven of us from Singapore and Dubai officially became the first SUP team to travel to this hidden Himalayan Kingdom and also claim the first descent of two of its rivers. The expedition’s added objective was to raise awareness and funds for RENEW, a charity founded by the Queen Mother of Bhutan, which is dedicated to the empowerment of women and children, with specific attention to survivors of domestic violence. During this trip, we raised SGD 20,000- of which SGD 19,000 we presented a cheque to RENEW and an additional SGD 1,000 was raised thanks to the generosity of family and friends who continued to donate wile we were paddling
BHUTAN - STAND UP PADDLE EXPEDITION
May 2017
ANOTHER MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! Eleven of us from Singapore and Dubai officially became the first SUP team to travel to this hidden Himalayan Kingdom and also claim the first descent of two of its rivers. The expedition’s added objective was to raise awareness and funds for RENEW, a charity founded by the Queen Mother of Bhutan, which is dedicated to the empowerment of women and children, with specific attention to survivors of domestic violence. During this trip, we raised SGD 20,000- of which SGD 19,000 we presented a cheque to RENEW and an additional SGD 1,000 was raised thanks to the generosity of family and friends who continued to donate while we were paddling
IRAN - DESERT CROSSING
November 2016
Mission accomplished! We are the first female team to have crossed the Lut Desert in Iran on foot!
In seven days, we travelled 203 kilometres under ever changing and challenging weather conditions and terrain. It was the most wonderful journey of friendship, laughter and hardship, as our team of 12 driven ladies experienced the desert in both its magnificence and unforgiving conditions. We kept our endless enthusiasm under the blazing heat of the mega dunes, as we braved sand storms, freezing nights and finally unexpected snow. Up before dawn and still walking in the glowing sunset light, averaging 30 kilometers a day (sometimes painfully laboring our way through soft sand) we kept our enthusiasm moved by an incredible feeling of freedom and accomplishment.
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We are grateful to our supporters who helped us reach our ambitious US$100,000 fundraising target.
CAMBODIA - CYLING EXPEDITION
March 2016
In March 2016, WOAM launched its very first mini-expedition. Our team of 14 ladies undertook a challenging 4-day cycle through the amazing landscape of Siem Reap in support of Sala Baï, a school that helps fight poverty and human trafficking by providing professional training and job opportunities for young, underprivileged Cambodians. During our visit we experienced a slice of Cambodia’s intoxicating history, met the exceptionally friendly Khmer people and the students of Sala Baï while also taking-in the country’s breathtaking natural beauty on bicycles.
In November 2015, a team of nine women embarked on our most challenging WOAM expedition yet, a 12 day trek with the nomadic Nenets reindeer herders of the Yamal Peninsula of Siberia. This was the first time in history that an all-female team accompanied the Nenets on one of their twice-yearly 60km-journey across the frozen Gulf of Ob, which is a bay of the Arctic Ocean located at the mouth of the Ob River, deep in the Arctic Circle in northern Russia.
Watch our Teammate Haylena Mk's short film on our journey for a taster of this amazing trip:
SIBERIA NOMADIC EXPEDITION
Nov. 2015
TSUM SACRED VALLEY TREK, NEPAL
Oct. 2014
In October 2014, our self-funded team of nine women successfully completed a 13 day trek across the sacred Tsum Valley of Nepal in the Himalayas, in an effort to raise awareness and funds for women survivors of war, victims of human trafficking and rape.
Part of our 2014 Tsum Valley Trek and Campaign, this expedition and its associated fundraising events, helped us raised SGD 142,000 to support our charity partners.
JORDAN CLIMBING EXPEDITION
Nov. 2013
For our 2013 Jordan expedition, our team of 12 intrepid and self-funded women from Singapore and Europe embarked on a 10 day climbing expedition across a politically charged region of the Middle East. United by a strong drive to make a difference, our teammates have learned new skills and truly challenged themselves in an effort to raise awareness and funds for women survivors of war, victims of human trafficking, and rape.
This trek and its associated "1001 Nights" themed fundraising event have enabled us to raise SGD 150,000 to support our charity partners.
EVEREST BASE CAMP, NEPAL
Nov. 2012
Our very first expedition in support of Women for Women International saw a team of nine adventurous women from Singapore and Europe embark on a two weeks trek to reach Everest Base Camp at a staggering altitude of 5,364 m (17,598 ft.).
Our EBC campaign (1 expedition and 2 fundraising events) enabled us to raise SGD 155,000. 100% of the proceeds from this campaign went to support Women for Women International outstanding work on the grounds with women survivors of wars.
