What happens when a family decides to act on their mission to build and strengthen bonds, and become an even stronger family? Well, it was as simple as, “Let’s climb a mountain together.”
This is what Qatar’s Al Khanji family decided to do. They decided to take on the challenge of attempting to climb Mt Kilimanjaro together, as a family. The experience was also their way of welcoming into their fold a new member, an Al Kuwari.
In experiencing life together, Margarita Zuniga along with her children Salman Nasser al-Khanji, Omar Nasser al-Khanji, Mariam Nasser al-Khanji, Sarah Nasser al-Khanji, and daughter-in-law Alia Saad al-Kuwari, hit upon the idea of climbing a mountain as a family. “When we are together, we tune into nature. It grounds us”, they say.
Not all six members of the family managed to summit the physical mountain. Some had to give up prior to reaching the pinnacle, while others carried on. But conquer other mountains, they did. They are the first Qatari family to attempt such a climb as a team, standing by each other through the entire challenging experience. Moments of success and struggles, through the steep terrain, rough weather conditions, thin air and demanding climb have all been captured in a documentary, titled, A Qatari Family: Conquering Mountains Together. The documentary is kept real…
What followed next was another success story. The documentary was selected for screening at the Tegernesee International Mountain Film Festival in Germany, in October this year. Another mountain was thus conquered — their entry was the first film from Qatar that’s ever been selected for screening at the festival.
The family’s experiences through triumphs and struggles have knit them closer together. Here is their story in their own words.
Tell us something about yourselves.
We are all so different in many ways but our roots remain one and that keeps us together as a team and a family.
Margarita Zuniga (mother) @mtfr_qtr: I consider myself a genuine person committed to myself and my children in supporting their dreams and goals. I love humanity and am involved in behavioural-change awareness programmes. I celebrate life everyday. My favourite verse in the Qu’ran is, “If you’re grateful, I will give you more” 14:7. I work at VCUarts Qatar as Special Assistant to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and the Associate Dean for Administration.
Salman Nasser al-Khanji @mubnochallenge: I am an experience and value-driven individual, who likes to experience new challenges that have significance. I have very low tolerance for assumption and hence prefer experiencing things first-hand to avoid suppositions. I am the Director of Public Relations and Marketing at Qatar Golf Association.
Alia Saad al-Kuwari (Salman’s wife) @alia_alkuwari_999: I’m a creative individual, Instagram blogger and a dreamer. I love history and travelling. My goal in attempting the summit was to increase awareness in women on the powerful voice that lies inside of them, just waiting to be released. I am a Public Relations Assistant at Oryx GTL.
Omar Nasser al-Khanji: I’m ambitious and driven by curiosity to experience the various spectrums of life. Besides being a member of the Qatar Basketball Federation, I’m also a Best Buddies Ambassador with Best Buddies International. I’m currently pursuing my Master’s in International Finance and Banking, at Portsmouth University, UK.
Mariam Nasser al-Khanji: I’m fuelled with the ambition to help people around the world in anyway I can. I’m benevolent and find great joy in helping people in need. I am a student of Business and Human Resource Management at Portsmouth University, UK.
Sarah Nasser al-Khanji: I see myself as an inspiring personality. I seek to discover the world through personal experiences and believe in understanding different cultures through first-hand encounters. I am also working on a course in Business and Human Resource Management at Portsmouth University, UK.
It is not often that you hear of families here attempting a mountain climb together. What was the inspiration behind the attempt?
Margarita: When we decided on a family adventure, I came up with the idea of climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, following a recommendation from a friend who had earlier successfully summited the mountain. The success rate of 96% was encouraging. It turned out to be an amazing experience: fun, sad, joyful, tiring, exhausting, satisfying and finally, very jubilant.
The true inspirations came after the journey. We learned more about each other’s potentials. We also learned perseverance, persistence, patience and the struggles required to make it to the summit.
It’s an enriching experience when families take on challenges together. It was amazing to watch how each one supported the other, every step of the way. The physical, mental and even emotional challenges led to a rewarding experience and growth. It has helped us learn more about our own capabilities under demanding, environmental conditions. It really put us to the test.
It was heartening to meet amazing people like our porters and guides who always carried beautiful smiles. We’ve also learned to become more grateful.
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When was this climb? How did you prepare for the adventure?
Margarita: My son Salman, Sarah and I had summited Kilimanjaro in 2014, for the World Cancer Day. In 2016, we decided to do it again, this time as a family. In preparation, we ran outdoors everyday and pulled tyres for increased endurance; we lifted weights for strength and scheduled inclined walking in the gym. Omar kept his stamina high through basketball training. Before the trip we meditated with the help of Tibetan singing bowls.
Share with us some of your unforgettable experiences.
Margarita: My most cherished memories were the compassionate moments I witnessed as my kids supported each other right through our journey, especially during the struggles to make it to each camp. There was much laughter throughout the journey.
Sarah: My best moment was praying together before embarking on our climb. There were some scary and challenging moments for sure. I have phobia about mice and unfortunately at the base camp there were mice everywhere. I kept my eyes shut in fear and moved around with the guide’s help, holding on to his backpack for dear life. I was so scared! But that didn’t stop me from continuing my journey!
Salman: My best memory was watching my wife Alia persevering in her attempt to reach the summit.
Alia: My husband and I had completed one year of marriage. We wanted to create a library of stories and life experiences to share with our children. This trip helped us respect and appreciate our differences and grow together. It was an extreme, yet great experience to learn more about each other. We encourage couples to explore each other through travels.
Omar: My most cherished moment was making it to the top for my family and my country. We had some unforgettable moments that strengthened our love for each other as a family.
Mariam: I’m grateful that I could go on this amazing journey with my family. It was filled with emotions from the beginning. We experienced fun, laughter, tears, encouragement, endurance in the face of challenges, forgiveness, boldness, trust, serenity and moments of exhilaration.
This would make you the first Qatari family to go on such an adventure. What message would you like want to convey to other families?
Margarita: I haven’t heard of other Qatari families climbing the Kilimanjaro together as a team, but I am aware of many Qatari individuals who have summited the mountain to raise awareness for various causes, sponsored by Reach out to Asia. The way we see it, we are all brothers and sisters in this world, so I guess that counts as family (smiling).
We hope more families take on such adventures.
I encourage people to go out and try new things to experience more of life. Create a library of stories to share with others.
What prompted the idea of submitting your experiences for a film festival?
Margarita: Right from the start we had planned to document our journey, to share our experiences and promote outdoor family adventures. We wanted to create awareness on families in Qatar, because we are like many other families around the world that experience new things together.
I was pleasantly surprised when Mark Flagler of Flagler Films, our videographer/ photographer informed us that our documentary had been accepted for screening at Tegernsee International Mountain Film Festival, Germany. Mark was more excited than us, I think.
What a delightful learning experience it was at the festival. It was a full house for the screening and was an eye-opener for the viewers. Their perception of families in Qatar changed, when they realised we have much in common. It was an inspiring event for me as well, as I met mountain filmmakers, producers, directors and music composers from around the world, for the first time. It’s a place to meet amazing risk takers.
The festival took place in Tegernsee, a lovely place with a stunning lake and mountain view, an hour away from Munich.
What are your plans for the next adventure?
Margarita: Mt Aconcagua in Argentina is calling me. As a family, I think Machu Picchu is a possibility.
Mariam: I’m in all the way to any destination my family decides. I love travelling with my family.
Sarah: I don’t think I can ever say no to Kilimanjaro. The mountain was calling us from Qatar. I would love to climb another mountain probably in Asia and I’m thinking of cycling the Great Wall of China.
Salman: South Pole exploration is on my mind.
Alia: I will return to Kilimanjaro. I have already travelled to several places with my husband. There is more to come.
Omar: I’m focused on basketball at the moment and look forward to the next destination.
Anything else you want to add?
Salman: We can never give up on each other and that’s what makes us a family!
ON TOP OF THE WORLD: Margarita Zuniga and Omar al-Khanji at the Summit of Mt Kilimanjaro, where Margarita is holding the flag for her daughter-in-law. Photos: Flagler Films
