麻豆社

Team Ascend are a group of 28 young Afghan women, determined to conquer Afghanistan's highest peak, Mount Noshaq, which stands at 7,492m high. A big enough challenge for experienced mountaineers, their goal is made that much harder as they have to climb and train in secret. Living in a male dominated society, their families don't feel it's an appropriate sport for women. Two young mountaineers from the group (whose names have been changed) Freshta Ibrahimi and Taiba Hussaini have been speaking to Newsday's Lawrence Pollard.

(Photo: Team Ascend on a training climb. Credit: Ascend Athletics)