NZTC celebrates International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day – a day of celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women around the world.
For many years, New Zealand Tertiary College has considered and actioned how they could best support women and their families and communities globally. Reflecting on the college’s core values of Vision, Heart, Competence and Spirit, NZTC has looked for ways to support women’s leadership both within New Zealand and beyond.
Several years have passed since the college began supporting a small rural village in Utter Pradesh, India. NZTC’s support of Ballia began with the building of a bridge to unite two sides of the village separated by an un-crossable waterway in the rainy season. The following year Jagriti Academy officially opened, enabling the education of hundreds of children as first generation learners.
NZTC’s community support initiatives went one step further this week as the first and only toilet facility in the village was opened, bringing a wish of the village women to life and supporting families with their healthcare education.
NZTC Chief Executive Selena Fox has worked alongside the women of Ballia for a number of years, listening to their ideas, reflections and needs as the college has looked to support these women.
Meeting with the girls and women of the village in a Jagriti Academy classroom after the official opening of the toilet facilities, Fox invited a shared conversation asking them what needs they may have personally and for their families to enable them to care and lead in stronger, more difference-making ways.
The women shared their desire for sewing classes to support their personal, family and economic development. The need for transport to school, such as bikes, was also shared, with the women explaining the daily kilometres their children walk to attend the school they have come to understand the value of and love.
“I’ve been inspired by the thoughts, ideas, actions and challenges of many female leaders over the years and I’ve reflected and considered how NZTC could further empower women beyond our qualification offerings,” said Fox.
“Through the women of Ballia, I have come to learn that even vast differences of language, cultures and life experiences of New Zealand, to the most rural village areas of India, offer no barrier when women come together with love and open hearts willing to journey together. Differences dissolve and our shared hearts, eyes and moments together gifted a connectedness for limitless possibilities in the days ahead.
“Our work in India began in 2009 with our office in Mumbai delivering early childhood education qualifications to teachers looking to upskill and since then we have furthered our commitment to supporting women with community outreach initiatives like Ballia.
“Today our NZTC hearts reach beyond New Zealand shores to support women at a pace and in a way that is right for them and their families. It was humbling to have the women of Ballia come to share time, their lives, their ideas and wants for themselves, their families and their children, as they offer relationship and trust in a shared journey in the years ahead,” she said.
With a number of further initiatives in the pipeline thanks to the opportunity to listen to the voices of the beautiful women of Ballia, NZTC looks forward to sharing more in the time ahead as the college celebrates and seeks to assist international women’s empowerment every day so each woman can achieve her potential for the lives and loves of all around her.