Susan Dickson who is the CWLANZ National President says the 1445km Vietnam Chinese border is a known area for human trafficking. Women and children are often trafficked into China to be sold as brides or enter other situations of exploitation, she explains.

"The CWLANZ challenge was to form a group to collectively walk 1445km during October with the aim of raising money for Hagar Vietnam and their transforming work with women who have been trafficked to China or survived other forms of severe abuse.

"We all had different fitness levels and schedules, but the goal was to travel this significant distance together, raise awareness about those who do travel it, and match our steps with sponsorship dollars.

Twenty-five Catholic Women's League members from across the country and four friends collectively walked 2843.37 kilometres and raised $7740 between them.

The donations came from family and friends.

"We were overwhelmed by the amazing support," Dickson says.

"The cause and our dedication resonated. With their help, we can enable Hagar Vietnam to make a real difference to the lives of vulnerable women."

To find out more about the fight against the trafficking of humans look up Talitha Kum online. To find out more about the work of Hagar visit: https://hagar.org.nz/

Source

• Supplied

The group included Magdalene Toroansi, former minister for women from the Autonomous Region of Bougainville; West Papua human rights activist, Olga Hamadi; Solomon Islands youth worker, Veronique Maebiru, and from Fiji, Anareta Apole, Menka Goundan, Alisi Daveta and Justine Maravu.

Fay Volatabu, the general secretary for the National Council of Women, writing in the Fiji Times said "I take my hat off to these women! It's not easy leaving children and families to the care of someone else to go study peace building in another country even if its only for eight weeks. And these are not ordinary women — these are women who feel deeply and are burdened for their countries as evidenced by their postings on Facebook."

The Women's Peace-building Leadership (WPL) Program sponsored the women. It is run by the Pacific Centre for Peacebuilding, and is co-ordinated by National Council of Women Fiji executive, Vani Catanasiga .

Source

• Fiji Times
• Image: sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net

The project will help local women and women's groups teach their friends and relatives about the proper management and disposal of household wastes and will be piloted in Lami town.

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The women will elect new office bearers and discuss development plans for the Catholic Women's League.