Juwan, 13, youngest Bahraini to reach Everest Base Camp

Manama, May 9 (BNA): A 13-year-old has become the youngest Bahraini girl to reach Everest Base Camp. Juwan Abdulkhaleq, an eighth grade student, held high the flag of Bahrain with the message “I raise you above the clouds” as she made history by reaching the South Base Camp in Nepal at an altitude of 5,364 metres. Juwan was a member of an expedition that included 20 other women, aged between 23 and 47, coming from Bahrain (13), Saudi Arabia, (3), Kuwait (4) and the UAE (1). The expedition, organised by the Journey Adventures, lasted 12 days and participants said they were impressed with Juwan’s strength, courage and fortitude. Rasha Yousif, the Bahraini adventurer who celebrated the New Year on top of the Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, said that everybody paid rich tribute to Juwan’s character. “She is a very special person and she inspired us in many ways,” she said. “Juwan is fortunate to have such supportive parents and family members. She also received tremendous encouragement from her school and her classmates. During her preparations, her mother was with at her every step of the training process filled with a series of formidable challenges to strengthen her mental and physical endurance.” The assistance of guides such as Fajr Mufeez and Fatima Al Mahmood was tremendous. Exercises included walking, jogging and cycling early at dawn, before Juwan attended her regular classes at her school, like any other “regular” student. “Juwan developed her passion for trekking and climbing mountains when she heard all the wonderful stories about the group of women who climbed the Kilimanjaro at the end of last year. The extraordinary trip was also organised by The Journey Adventures and deeply marked the women who were part of it. When Juwan listened to their stories, anecdotes and comments early this year, excitement inexorably built up. She was deeply fascinated and she wanted to be part of the next expedition. “I knew that she can do it the first day I met her in February when she told us she will be coming with us on one of our adventure trips,” Fatima Ali Al Mahmood posted on her Instagram account. “I cannot explain my joy that we were part of her dream that came true. I cannot be more proud of knowing a Bahraini mom who lets her 13 year old follow such an unconventional dream. Marwa [Juwan’s mother], we love you for letting us borrow her and allowing us to learn so much from her during the past two weeks.” Having lived through an amazing adventure, Juwan is already anticipating the next adventure on a new peak where she will proudly hold up the graceful Bahraini red and white flag with its distinctive five serrations, soaring higher than clouds. Family friend Dayana Al Shaikh, a well-established Bahraini painter who has a rich experience in confronting challenges, said that she was thrilled by the adventure of Juwan. “I saw Juwan’s experience as a great opportunity for her, and subsequently for those close to her, to gain new insights into the world and re-evaluate the way they had seen it so far,” she said. “It was a great character-building experience where Juwan, acting older than her age, was able to leave her comfort zone to become engaged in a special adventure where she could discover and establish relations with things outside her regular world.” Dayana said that she was happy about Juwan’s feelings regarding the Everest trip and how it was likely to shape her perspectives on life and dreams for the future. The adventure and the image of Juwan holding the Bahraini flag up on the South Base Camp of the world’s tallest mountain have inspired Layal Youssef Al Thawadi, a remarkably talented teenage artist, to draw a sketch of the momentous feat. Her mother, Dayana, said that the two girls have never met and that Layal who heard about Juwan from her, wanted to pay tribute to the refreshing courage and uplifting determination of the 13-year-old adventurer who braved numerous challenges to fulfil her dream. The artwork was so inspirational that Dayana posted it on her Instagram account. “The drawing was not only beautiful, but it was also a reflection of how young people like Layal and Juwan can draw on their inner mental strength to celebrate their aptitudes and to power themselves enthusiastically towards the special moments that life offers.”