English | Français| Deutsch

Filmed in Lebanon in 2022/2023 — amidst crisis, uncertainty, and moments of doubt — SAMA was shaped by budget struggles and quiet persistence before finally touring film festivals from Kendal to Kathmandu.

Watch the full film here: climbaid.org/sama

On the page, you’ll also find updates on Hiba, Sabine, Yehya, and Hassan — and how their journeys have continued since the filming.

SAMA tells the story of Hiba, a Syrian who fled to Lebanon, and Sabine, a young woman from the nearby town of Bar Elias. What connects them is a shared love for climbing — a passion they discovered through ClimbAID’s project in the Bekaa Valley.

But SAMA is about more than climbing. It’s about four young people navigating displacement and exclusion — and their search for identity, friendship, and hope.

Climbing is more than just a sport. It moves people – not just physically, but emotionally, and socially, too. SAMA is a film about four young people in Lebanon whose everyday lives are marked by crisis. They share their stories of displacement, exclusion, and the search for identity – but also of friendship, trust, and hope.

Read the full Blog post written by ClimbAID founder Beat Baggenstos on Mammut.com.

In Lebanon, escalating conflict and mass displacement repeatedly disrupted our programmes. Many sessions were cancelled or adapted at short notice, and by year’s end, most programmes had to be suspended. At the same time, work from previous years bore fruit: our film SAMA premiered, and a peer-reviewed study confirmed the mental health impact of our bouldering-based psychosocial programme for conflict-affected youth.

In Switzerland, our project continued to grow. With 15 active groups and over 1,200 people involved, the MaxiFamily project spans the country — supported by a strong network of volunteers, participants, and partner organisations.

Read the full Report on Activities 2024.

With your donation, you support our projects in Switzerland and Lebanon. Thank you for being part of this journey.