Sometimes my aimless roaming around the internet leads me to something pretty cool. This was the case when I found Peaks Foundation , a non-profit that organizes global mountain based challenges and events for women. Reading further about the organization, I learned this wasn’t just a trek for the adventurous dirtbag darlings, but served a deeper purpose of investing in girls and women to reach beyond their comfort zones and realize their potential through outdoor expeditions. Upon reaching out to executive director Chloe Chick, I learned that she was involved in yet another amazing project called SisuGirls , which uses adventure-based education with younger girls to help them make confident choices. I immediately recognized Chloe as a Modern Muse and wanted to help support her mission by sharing her story.
Bio.
Chloe is the Founder of SisuGirls, a Singapore registered social enterprise, which aims to encourage girls to be determined, brave and resilient through adventure- based programs. Chloe shows serious sisu herself. She has climbed many of the world’s highest peaks, has run an ultra-marathon in the Himalaya, driven overland across the African continent, lived in six different countries and is the mother of two young children. She founded 3 Peaks 3 Weeks Africa in 2004, co-founded Peaks Foundation in 2010, and recently founded SisuGirls. Originally from Australia, she is now based in Singapore with her two young children and hugely supportive husband.
Can you tell us about your journey? How did you get to where you are today?
I left Australia in 2003 to volunteer at a school in East Africa, The School of St Jude in Tanzania. After my six-month volunteering period, my now husband and I bought an old Landrover and we spent six months driving down one side of the continent and back up the other – during these travels the idea to support small grassroots community driven projects was formed and the concept of a mountain challenge to raise funds was developed. We founded 3 Peaks 3 Weeks Africa in October 2004 and spent over 24 months working on the project. 10 of us worked like crazy, training, fundraising, securing sponsors and media exposure and in January 2007 became the first team to climb three of Africa’s highest peaks in less than three weeks, raising over USD $385,000 in the process.
We all thought it would be a one off event, but after the January 2007 expedition we were approached by more and more women and eventually 3 Peaks 3 Weeks Africa evolved into the Peaks Foundation. Peaks is a registered non-profit and has taken over 200 women on mountain based expeditions across the world and distributed over USD $1.1 million to local female-focused intiatives in those regions.
My past 10 years experience working with women and distributing funds to female- focused projects, combined with my own personal experiences and the raising of my 5 year old daughter have naturally led me to SisuGirls and my passion for encouraging girls to be determined, brave and resilient.
We founded SisuGirls, because we believe leadership skills, confidence development and the willingness to try (and fail) begins at a much earlier stage of life. We want girls to fully understand and utilise their limitless potential. We want the societal pressures of what is “girl appropriate” to be banished. Our aim is for girls to be strong, healthy and happy and to be proud of their uniqueness, to not strive to fit a mould.
How and why did you decide on Singapore for the headquarters of Sisu?
We orignally relocated to Singapore from Switzerland to be closer to our Australian family and friends, but over the past two years we have discovered what a truly remarkable country Singapore is. It is a perfect HQ for SisuGirls, as we believe many young women in Asia are in need of an organization like this, to encourage more physical activites, for more girls to understand their true potential through sporting pursuits and for girls to strive for both physical and mental strength through outdoor-based programs.
Why the name SisuGirls? 
Sisu is a Finnish term, which loosely translated into English is strength of will,
determination, perseverance, and acting rationally in the face of adversity. The literal meaning is equivalent in English to “having guts”, and the word derives from sisus, which means something inner or interior. That is exactly our mission,
to encourage girls to have guts.
You have a one for one component? Can you explain that?
Geography and financial means shouldn’t dictate opportunity. We work with non- profit partners in Nepal, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Peru and Tanzania who provide these opportunities in their communities. As an example, for every girl who signs on to our skateboarding program, we make a contribution to Skateistan, to provide skateboarding to girls in Afghanistan and Cambodia.
Can you give me “a day in the life” of Chloe Chick?
With two young children (5 and 2), no matter how much I plan, the day can be somewhat unpredictable. I am up early before the children wake to exercise before getting back in time for breakfast and being involved with the usual morning routine. The work day is spent either at the computer, in meetings or at our after-school programs. I try to finish by 5pm to collect my daughter from school and focus on the family for a few hours before their bedtime. Once their lights are out it is often back to the desk for a few more hours of work. However, my weekends are totally work free. As much as I love my work, I love time with my family and friends too – those emails and work to’do’s can wait.
Are the local programs after school programs or school curriculum?
Our SisuGirlsLocal programs, which consist of rock-climbing, running and skateboarding are all held after-school for girls aged 5 to 13. Although they are curriculum based, and we address specific topics over the 8 week program, they are not a part of the formal curriculum.
Who teaches these programs?
Our technical programs like rock-climbing and skateboarding are taught by qualified professional instructors and hosted by a trained mentor volunteer. Our running program is taught by trained volunteer coaches.
How often do the global programs take place?
We host three SisuGirlsGlobal programs per year. One to Peru, Nepal and Tanzania. These are much larger programs with a 20-week leadership and development curriculum, which culminates with a mountain-based expedition. This program is about cross-cultural communication and the leadership skills required for global citizens. It is only available for girls aged 15 years or above.
What has been the most difficult part about heading a program like this?
The entreprenaurial journey is always challenging and founding SisuGirls is no exception. I think start-ups are something that only get easier the more often you do them. This time I have made sure I am surrounded by a very supportive network, fellow employees, mentors, and business coaches. Isloating yourself when you are launching a new concept is, in my opinion, not a very good idea. From a business perspective, our greatest challenge is educating parents about the benefits of these programs, particulary over academic enrinchment. There is a large emphasis on extra tution in Singapore for girls this age, so it is a challenge to convert girls from maths and mandarin lessons to the running track or skatepark.
What has been the most rewarding?
The most rewarding is watching the girls who participate in the programs flourish. Our recent SisuGirlsClimb program has been exceptionally rewarding. Six weeks ago we watched a small group of 5 year old girls turn up to the climbing wall and look up with fear, now they all scramble to the top with spider-woman like skills and true sisu! (determination, bravery and resilience).
Why did you choose running, skating and climbing as your three main activities?
Rock-climbing, running and skateboarding are unique sports that have the ability to empower us, they are also individual pursuits, so we only need to compete with ourselves and not with others. However, through our program they are done in a supportive and safe team environment, which is critical for developing confidence. The rock-climbing and skateboarding are also non-traditionally “girls” sports, which means we are promoting equality in this arena. We believe more young boys need to see competent young girls in these domains, otherwise, boys will continue to dominate these landscpaes and from an early age will perceive females differently.
What are your short term goals for Sisu? Long term?
Over the next 12 months we aim for at least 500 girls in Singapore taking part in our SisuGirlsLocal programs. Longer term we want this number to increase and our girls empowerment engine to reach other regions in Asia Pacific.
What is the best way for people to support your mission and organization?
Sign up your daughter, niece, granddaughter – the more girls we have involved the better. Otherwise, we would really appreciate your help in spreading the word and following our inspiring content through our media channels. All our content is curated and aims to encourage and inspire girls.
What makes you wake up each morning?
I am hugely passionate about girls being able to pursue their limitless potential and I think this passion is a huge motivator. Having two young children also helps – seeing how much they learn and soak in from role models is very apparent to me and I am determined for my children to have freedom of choice, and the confidence and knowledge to make those choices confidentally.
What and/ or who inspires you?
I am inspired by people who are pushing outside their comfort zone, the doers, the risk takers, but most importantly, the people who do it for others, for their community. Those who are genuiely passionate about seeing others rise, and not just themselves. I am also hugely inspired by the natural environment and as lover f mountains, get a lot of inspiration from expeditions in mountain regions.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
I have had a lot of great mentors throughout my journey, with a lot of incredible advice, but I am going to give the credit to Nike here – I think the slogal “Just Do It” is the best piece of advice to give, afterall, what it is the worst thing that could happen?
