Deshun Deysel became one of the first South African woman to climb Mount Everest. Born in a township she believes that a dream and willingness to work hard can uplift kids!
Deshun Deysel grew up in Uitenhage and now lives in Johannesburg. At 46 she has undertaken over 14 major expeditions across 5 continents. She forged a career in motivational speaking while managing to satisfy her mountain climbing craving.
It all started when, as a novice, she was part of the first South African team to plant the country’s democratic flag on top of Mount Everest in 1996. This meant she had the honour of being the first black South African woman to climb Mount Everest. After the Everest expedition, Deshun found herself increasingly driven to explore other mountain climbing avenues.
‘She said her own story was evidence that a township kid with a dream and a willingness to work hard could rise above tough circumstances and become a positive role model for others. In the days of apartheid, Deysel was refused entry to the SA Mountain Club, but she did not let this hold her back in making her mountaineering dreams become a reality.’
She has also successfully climbed Mount Meru in Tanzania, Mount Kenya, Mount Elbrus in Russia, Mount Kala Pathar in Nepal and Mt. Blanc in France.
Deshun is an ambassador for the Laureus Foundation which focuses on sports that create a powerful message to help social projects around the world and use sport as a tool for social change.
“Through my work with the Laureus Foundation, I have seen how sport can make a positive impact, raising people out of poverty, creating understanding between differing factions and creating hope and even wealth.”
She believes sport is creating a healthy lifestyle, developing the country’s youth and unifying the community. She enjoy’s quoting Mandela’s thoughts on sport.
“As Nelson Mandela once said, ‘sport has the power to change the world and the power to unify people in a way that little else does’.
Deshun Deysel will be the keynote speaker at the Western Cape’s Provincial Conference on Sport in George on the 10th and 11th of March. The conference will explore the contribution sport can make to society, emphasising the development of youth and building community participation.
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