Beirut, May 23rd, 2019 – Joyce Azzam, who has climbed 27 mountains around the globe, reached the summit of Mount Everest this morning at 4:07am (Beirut time) with the precious support of Mrs. Nahla Khaddage Bou Diab, COO and all the personnel at AM Bank, her Peak Performance Sponsor. Azzam has thus completed the Seven Summits Challenge- Climbing the world’s highest mountains in all continents, and has become the first Lebanese woman to achieve this feat. When she reached Mount Everest’s peak situated at an altitude of 8,848m, Joyce proudly raised her country’s national flag at “the roof of the world” and was congratulated by the President of the Council of Ministers of Lebanon, H.E. Mr. Saad Hariri, who had given her his full support to beat this ultimate challenge.
Bearing the slogan of the Ministry of State for Economic Empowerment of Women and Youth “Tari2naBiwassel,” Joyce Azzam was also supported by H.E. Violette Khairallah Safadi who expressed her “pride in this achievement, as it is an encouragement to the Lebanese youth, especially Lebanese women.” Minister Khairallah Safadi added, “As the Ministry’s Ambassador for 2019 in recognition of her capabilities, Joyce carried the slogan of the ministry along with the Lebanese flag and planted them at the world’s highest summit.”
Incidentally, after reaching Nepal for her Everest ascent, Joyce planted a Cedar tree plant from Lebanon’s Shouf Reserve in the gardens of the Park Village of Katmandu hotel complex accompanied by the members of the Rotary Club of Newroad City, District 3292, as a tribute to every person involved in the protection of nature and mountains, and in the presence of the Nepalese Minister of Forests and Environment with the partnership of H.E. Mr. Fady Jreissaty, Minister of Environment in Lebanon.
As a Conservation Architect and Urban Designer qualified with a PhD in Landscape & Environment, Joyce brings together the worlds of adventure and architecture. Her love for outdoor activities has unleashed in her a passion to research innovative approaches to protect and conserve cultural heritage sites, specifically “Cultural Routes & Landscapes.”
Joyce’s exploits won’t stop at the Seven Summits, as she is bent on pursuing her dream to attain the Explorers Grand Slam which will see her top up the Seven Summits Challenge by reaching the two poles, thus becoming the second woman in the world to achieve that score.
Throughout her mountaineering accomplishments, Joyce is driven by a self-set mission of inspiring girls and women to aim high, follow their dreams, and challenge themselves in the process.
Of notable importance in this regard is Joyce’s aim to inspire change in the lives of children. To this end, she partnered with the Lebanese NGO Himaya that promotes child protection via fighting and preventing child abuse, thus helping to highlight its noble cause of ensuring a fulfilled future for those children.
As a sign of her commitment, Joyce took the flag of Himaya along with her and planted it at the foot of Mount Everest, namely upon her visit to the children of Mission Himalaya Orphanage in Nepal, with whom she shared her story and her mountaineering challenges. And as she did when she met the children of Himaya before travelling from Lebanon to Nepal, she also encouraged their Nepalese friends to believe in their dreams.
To follow Joyce (www.joyceazzam7s) and on social media: @joyceazzam7s