Congratulations to YWCA Honoured Life Member Tufuga Lagatule for being recognised with an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the Queen's Birthday Honours.
Tufuga has been involved with our Christchurch YWCA since the 1970s where she has been a Board member and Vice President. She has been honoured as a Life Member of both the Christchurch YWCA and the YWCA of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Tufuga has devoted most of her life to the Pacific Island community and to the wider New Zealand society in helping raise awareness of the socio-economic and cultural needs of Pacific Island people living in New Zealand. Tufuga set up the Pacific Islands Social Services within the Department of Social Services in the mid 1980s, worked on the Advisory Council for the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, established the voluntary organisation Pacific Island Social Services and was elected to the first Pacific Island Cultural Reference Group. Tufuga was also acknowledged for her important contributions in 1988 when she was awarded the Queen's Service Medal.
Tufuga is pictured above being conferred as Honoured Life Member of the YWCA of Aotearoa NZ at our 2006 AGM with past President Gaye Barton
Involve 08: Relate. 2-4 July 2008, Wellington
A conference about 'Young People and Quality Relationships'
Keynotes are international youth development and identity expert Dr Ann-Marie Tupuola, the locally-famous but globally-focussed Justin Duckworth, youth development worker Pahia Turia, and
Lloyd Martin author of several books around youth work and cross cultural
communication
Involve is more than a conference.
It is an experience.
A meeting of hearts and minds.
Bringing together over 500 diverse people who work with young people: youth workers, policy analysts, peer support workers, health workers, youth health and development providers, practitioners, clinicians, educators, professionals, young people, counsellors, social workers and more.
Registrations have opened so check out the Involve website for more info.
positive women launch new destigmatisation campaign
Positive Women Inc recently launched their campaign to combat negative stereotypes and stigma about women living with HIV. Look Beyond the Stereotypes is a bold new campaign fronted by four HIV positive women Jane, Jan, Jewel and Beate. Over the next two months their profiles will appear on buses, in women’s magazines and websites.
Since 1985 almost 2500 people have been diagnosed with HIV in Aotearoa. The estimated total of people living with HIV is closer to 4000, of whom about 400 are women. Over the last several years the rate of heterosexual HIV infection in New Zealand has steadily increased to the point at which, in 2006 it outpaced that of men who have sex with men.
To learn more about Positive Women and the work they do link here to their website
Action alert: 250,000 homeless in Kenya after post-election violence
Violence erupted in Kenya after results of the December 27 election were announced and the opposition claim the election was rigged in favour of the incumbent Mwai Kibaki. Houses were set ablaze, people killed and business looted for several days following the announcement of the disputed election results. Over 600 people have died and 250,000 people are displaced as they flee violence and search for safety. Amidst the violence women have been systematically raped and abused.
The World YWCA is calling on member association, civil society, partners and donors to take action to alleviate the suffering in Kenya.
The YWCA of Aotearoa NZ is coordinating the receipt of donations, which will assist the Kenyan YWCA to provide support, particularly for women and children affected by the crisis. If you would like to you can donate by contacting us at info@ywca.org.nz or if you would prefer you can donate directly through the World YWCA website.
Link here to read more about the World YWCA's Action Alert
Order our free resources now!
The YWCA of Aotearoa New Zealand has two free resources, and a third on its way, that are available to anyone and everyone. Just email us on info@ywca.org.nz if you would like copies of either our DIY Guide or Like Your Body booklet. Our Sisters booklet, which tackles all facets of young women's sexual health from sexual orientation and safe sex to sexual abuse and much more, will be available soon.
DIY Guide It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the world’s problems, but there is so much we can do! The DIY guide is here to help you work out what’s important to you and what you can do about it.
Find out more about the DIY Guide and how to order copies
Our Like Your Body booklet is about promoting positive body image and empowering young women. It tackles important issues such as different ideas of beauty, images of women and body size in the media, healthy eating and the dangers of dieting. It helps the reader to get active and take a stand against negative ideals of body image. Find out more about Like Your Body and how to order copies.
Outward Bound Subsidies now available
Two of last year's successful applicants on their
Outward Bound adventure
In 2008 the YWCA of Aotearoa-NZ is able to offer four subsidies of $1500 for young women to attend an Outward Bound course. These subsidies are available to young women 30 and under who, because of economic hardship, would not otherwise be able to attend. In order to be eligible for a subsidy each young woman needs to be supported by their local YWCA (link to find the Y in your community). If there is not a YWCA in your area an application can be made through the National Office. There are certain commitment requirements that need to be met in order to be eligible for the subsidies, so be sure to discuss these with your supporting YWCA. To download an application form just click here, and for further information contact your local YWCA.
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