{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"","standfirst":"We caught up with Scout Ambassador Saray Khumalo to learn about the women who inspire her, the importance of education, and the opportunities and challenges of being a female adventurer.","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/12907/img_0926.jpg","width":4032,"height":3024,"altText":"","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhen did you first discover you were passionate about adventure?\u0026nbsp;\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThis all started when I was part of a church youth group called the Pathfinders. Having said that, I was always an inquisitive child.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYou were the first Black African woman to climb Everest \u2013 which is such a phenomenal achievement. How did you prepare for the new challenges? Is\u0026nbsp;there anything you do to actively help you keep a strong mindset?\u0026nbsp;\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAppreciating today as my time to create an impact keeps me going and the fact that every little bit makes me incrementally strong. Knowing that the summit is always waiting on the other side is also motivation enough\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYou\u2019re passionate about empowering women and girls through learning \u2013 how has your own education shaped you as a woman, and why do you think it\u0027s still so important in 2021?\u0026nbsp;\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EI see education as an equaliser, a way out of poverty and possibly unnecessary abuse that women face sometimes. An educated woman contributes to their family and educates the next generation creating a better community, country and continent.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/12908/img_7602-1.jpg","width":960,"height":960,"altText":"","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow does your role at Scouts fit into that passion? What motivates and inspires you in your role as Ambassador?\u0026nbsp;\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThis is one of the ways that I share my experience with the next generation and contribute to making my world a little better than I found it.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDo you have any advice on how to find and pursue a passion in adventure?\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EStay true to self, continue learning from all positive and negative experiences, appreciate partnerships and more importantly never give up.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAre there any challenges/barriers you think women of colour face in sport and adventure? How have you dealt with these throughout your career?\u0026nbsp;\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAbsence of representation in adventure and support from outdoor brands and other sponsors. I continue to make personal sacrifices for my passion and hope that the world joins in when ready. I work extra hard and focus on what I can change and how I react to other people\u2019 view of me.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESimilarly, are there any advantages, or things you particularly love about being a woman in the adventure space?\u0026nbsp;\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EUnchartered waters, an opportunity to represent not only women but people that look like me. More importantly the knowledge that my small steps will one day inspire others to do better and achieve excellence.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/12909/img_3503.jpg","width":720,"height":720,"altText":"","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhich women have inspired you most throughout your life? Who continues to inspire you today?\u0026nbsp;\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMy mother who was an immigrant, but raised 7 girls on her own. My grandmother who preached and lived a life of service. Cathy O\u2019Dowd who is South African and the first woman to summit Everest from both the South and North side\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat\u2019s the most beautiful sight you\u2019ve ever woken up to?\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ENot sure that I woke up to it but rather walking in the night through the death zone on Everest in 2017, I remember looking up and being mesmerised by the stars and moon that seemed so close as if they were fruits in a tree that I could just pick as I walked towards the summit.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat do you always carry in your adventure kit, no matter where you\u2019re going?\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBible and my vuvuzela.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"08 March 2021","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[],"relatedLinks":[],"id":48649,"nodeName":"An interview with Saray Khumalo","title":"An interview with Saray Khumalo","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/12907/img_0926.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1d9becd17095140","caption":"IMG 0926","type":"jpg","size":3286505,"width":4032,"height":3024,"altText":""},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"An interview with Saray Khumalo","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"An interview with Saray Khumalo","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC80ODY0OSJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2021/march/an-interview-with-saray-khumalo/"}