Shero was organised by a group of young Pacific women under the guidance and support of All Right? It was a chance for Canterbury’s strong young Pacific women to discuss the issues important to them.
“I am...ME, I am...BEAUTIFUL I am...WORTHY.”
There is no doubt that animated Disney princess, Moana, is a crowd favourite.
Children and adults alike celebrate this strong female character, who is fiercely independent, courageous, loving and compassionate.
Moana is the epitome of a Shero - a woman admired for her courage, outstanding achievements or noble qualities.
Take a moment to think about the strong women in your life? Is your Mum, sister, Nan or best friend on your mind? Or is it an on-screen name, a sporting star or musician?
What is it that makes them your daily heroine? Is it their ability to listen, their openness to try new experiences and start conversations, or maybe they give the best hugs?
Speaking up
Be the change, be strong, be open and know that you’re never alone.
Sexual health can be a taboo subject for many people - especially when it comes to sharing experiences with family or friends.
Our young women want to encourage everyone to “speak up”.
And in doing so, create openness, which is the key to creating awareness of safe sex and enforcing the message that you - and only you - own your body.
“When I become a mother, I will teach and talk about sex with my daughters or with my siblings and younger cousins.”
If your family, friends or church struggle to start conversations on sexual health, take ownership of the situation and make it happen.
“As a Pacific Island girl it is a taboo to talk about sexual health. I found this workshop very useful as it empowers us to talk to someone. If you go through problems, don’t let the shadow from the past overtake your sunshine.”
Avoiding the traps of Social Media
Navigating social media can be scary - for parents, teens and every one of the country’s Facebook users around the country.
In New Zealand, Facebook is the second most popular online go-to, after Google.
Statistics reveal that the poorest households around the globe are more likely to have access to mobile phones than to clean water and toilets.
We’ve now got the world at our fingertips. So how do we keep ourselves - and those we love - safe, in this crazy online world where social media creates healthy opportunities, while at the same time limiting others?
“I learnt to use social media with a sense of security. That I am made in the image of God.”
It can be easy to compare yourself to the glam squad online - you know the ones that seem to be on never-ending holidays, eating croissants from swim up buffets?
“Don’t compare yourself with others on social media. Be thankful and accept you for who you are. Prioritise yourself, your life and everything,” says one participant.
Reality is more fun anyway, let’s be honest.
Being mindful of how much you and those around you spend online is key too. We’re all guilty of wasting time online, where we fall deeper and before we know it we’re watching videos of goats singing Taylor Swift songs.
Practice being present, and remember it’s ok to put rules in place in the home to ensure you can monitor and limit the time your children spend on social media.
