Tata Steel mountaineering expeditions hone leadership skills of Noamundi youths

Noamundi: Mountaineering is a sport well-known for imbibing leadership, communication and decision-making skills apart from the obvious benefits of improving mental and physical health that it provides.

Even though this sport has only been a dream for many, considering the rigorous training and financial support it demands, several youngsters from Noamundi, located in the West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, have a different story to tell.

Since 2014, over 216 boys and girls from in and around Noamundi have been able to realise their dream of climbing mountains by completing the Outdoor Leadership Programme at Tumung, Jamshedpur.

Thanking Tata Steel Foundation for giving her the opportunity to be a part of the Outdoor Leadership Programme offered by Tata Steel Adventure Foundation, Halisa Sirka from Gitilipi village says, “Neither me nor my friends could believe that I got an opportunity to get trained in mountaineering by none other than the first Indian woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest, Ms Bachendri Pal.

This three-day training programme was one of the most remarkable experiences in my life. The learnings helped in developing my attitude to never give up and keep trying with unflinching focus to achieve the desired objective.”

Initially, selected youngsters are sent for the Outdoor Leadership Camp held in Tumung, Jharkhand followed by a basic mountaineering course. Gradually, they are encouraged to take up advanced courses and are selected for various expeditions organised by Tata Steel Adventure Foundation. Till now, over 90 youngsters have gone to Uttarkashi and a few were selected to scale the peak of Mount Kanamo and Mount Jagatsukh in Himachal Pradesh.

Sunil Karua from Noamundi, who got the opportunity to scale the peak of Mount Jagatsukh in Himachal Pradesh in 2019 says,” The peak was more than 18,000 ft high and our experience was truly exhilarating.

The high-altitude trekking tested our patience and endurance both at the physical and the mental level. I had no idea that mountaineering was so popular across the world. I am grateful to Tata Steel for giving me this opportunity”

These expeditions have helped local youth from Noamundi acquire skills such as leadership, communication, team-work and time management while also giving them a new passion to pursue.