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Recreation Aotearoa - Te Whai Oranga have just launched a new guide "Increasing participation of Muslim women and girls - Good Practice Guide." This guide is intended to help improve the participation of Muslim women and girls in outdoor activities. It describes strategies for outdoor centres, instructors, and leaders to improve religious and cultural sensitivity. The guide aims to create an inclusive environment, which reduces or removes barriers to participation for Muslimah. While focused on outdoor activities, the insights can support inclusivity in all areas of recreation. First Step Outdoors MD Kate was a significant contributor to the guide. ate says" We are super proud to have been involved with the development of this guideline. We have worked for many years with Muslimah, and have learned so much and made amazing relationships with many of the women in these groups many of whom we are now closely connected to. Personally, I have been on a journey with many of these young women, taking them on their first outdoor adventures many years ago, to now being 'Auntie Kate' to their babies. The community of women who allowed us to work work with them on this guideline are amazing, and spent a lot of time guiding and supporting this project. A massive thanks should go to Aliya Danzeisen, who I am so proud to call a great friend. She rocked up 17 years ago looking for someone to run a Muslimah camp for her WOWMA project. Her insight, organisation and dedication attributed to the success of this project, and to say she is a busy women is an understatement. I'm pretty proud of this work and really hope it holds some value to those who wish to learn more..." You can find the guide at https://www.nzrecreation.org.nz/news/new-guide-launched-increasing-participation-muslim-women-and-girls. If you know an organisation that would benefit from this guide, please help spread the word.  We have 3 amazing GIRL POWA adventures lined up for the first half of 2025 -
We are encouraging women to come join us with their daughter, granddaughter, niece, cousin, sister or friend - and be a role model, support and inspiration for their teen. They are not only helping their teen get out in the great outdoors learning new skills and having fun but also helping her grow in confidence, her self esteem and know that outdoor pursuits are not just for boys. You can find all the information and booking forms at https://www.firststepoutdoors.com/current-women-only-and-girl-powa-events.html  We were really excited to win THE RECREATION AOTEAROA - TE WHAI ORANGA TE TOHU - WHAKAAWEAWE KAUPAPA / OUTSTANDING EVENT / PROGRAMME AWARD 2024 for our GIRL POWA Programme. The Award "recognises the significant contribution that events and programmes make to outdoor recreation and adventure activities in New Zealand." Kate accepted the award at the award ceremony held in Auckland late last year. We would like to give a massive shout out to the POWA women and girls who came along on the GIRL POWA adventures with us. And of course a huge thank you to Sport New Zealand Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa fund administered by Sport Waikato for part funding the programme. Winning this award confirms our commitment to GIRL POWA. Seeing the girls grow in confidence as they get outdoors and have some fun, at a time in their lives when they are facing many pressures and challenges, is hugely rewarding. Hopefully in winning the award we can continue to spread the word and get more people on board with this important mahi!  |
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Kate Parr - MD of First Step Outdoors Archives
February 2025
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