VNZ Recognises the time is now this International Women's Day
Gender equality is vital to flourishing communities. Which is why this International Women’s Day, Volunteering New
Zealand supports the thousands of volunteers across New Zealand using actions to speak louder than words.
Actions like those of Mikayla Madden-Snoad, who volunteers on GirlGuiding New Zealand’s Ranger Advocacy Panel. The
purposes of the Panel, an initiative of GGNZ is to empower its younger members to be the leaders of tomorrow. In 2016,
Girl Guiding New Zealand decided that if they were an organisation focused on girls, they should be led by girls.
While 2018 is Mikayla’s third year on the panel she says “the feeling of making a difference and helping the voices of
girls be heard is amazing. I’m very excited for the year ahead”.
The panel has carried out a national survey to figure how what issues mattered most to girls. The results showed that
Gender Equality was one of the top issues which mattered to girls and young women across Aotearoa.
“On a daily basis, volunteers across New Zealand work to make the world a more just society, using individual and
collective resources to engage people in finding and implementing solutions to address gender inequalities” notes Helga
Wientjes, VNZ Chairperson.
Gill Greer, Chief Executive of the National Council of Women of New Zealand (NCWNZ) adds that “we need to remind
ourselves that the UN has stated that there is no country in the world that has succeeded in gaining gender equality,
but the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides a road map for us all to achieve gender equality”.
This International Women’s Day, Volunteering New Zealand stands alongside all volunteer-involving organisations
operationalising Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals working to achieve gender equality and empowering all women
and girls.
Photo caption: Mikayla Madden-Snoad, taking part in the Girl-Led video on gender equality.
Volunteering New Zealand (VNZ) is an association of national volunteer-involving organisations that have a commitment to
volunteering. Their mission is to maximise the impact of volunteering in our communities. www.volunteeringnz.org.nz