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Amy's Trek for Rights 2025

By Amy Brown

Why I'm fundraising for women and girls in crisis

I'm a priest in the Anglican Church and I'm passionate about the freedom and rights of women and children around the world. My faith is important to me, and I believe Jesus came to give freedom to the oppressed. It breaks my heart to see and hear stories of women and children around the world who are affected by war and whose right to freedom are ignored. This is a cause I support whole-heartedly.

There are 614 million women and girls living in conflict affected areas today. From Palestine to Ukraine, Haiti, Sudan, and Afghanistan, their numbers are going up, as geopolitical conflicts, climate change, health and food crises intensify.

I'm taking part in Trek for Rights 2025 in March and raising vital funds to help support the efforts of UN Women in partnership with local women’s organisations to provide critical services, hope and a lifeline to women and girls in war-torn countries and communities affected by natural disasters.

I'm doing the Trek (and not just fundraising) for the personal challenge it offers me in fitness and maintaining good mental health, as well as providing opportunities to share the word about the work of UN Women Australia in fundraising events - we must raise minimum of $3000 to attend the trek. I also want to show that my faith and Christian values prompt me to action in caring for women and girls who are vulnerable and oppressed in our world. 

Will you consider supporting me and cheering me on by contributing to this cause? 

*All donations go to UN Women Australia. 

**I pay my own way for the travel and trek expenses.


Please Support my Cause

Raised

$4,675

My Goal

$3,000

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$38
$75
$123
$306
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My Achievements

My Updates

Day 3-Sealy Tarns track

Thursday 20th Mar
We walked up that ridge line! Can you believe it?! 2200+ steps. ~600m+ elevation gain. Hard going up, jelly legs on the way down, incredible views the whole way, and very thankful for hiking poles!

Day 2-Mt Cook Hooker Valley Track

Thursday 20th Mar
The conditions were completely different today! Beautiful sunny blue sky and a nice gentle breeze as we walked the hooker valley track to the lake at the bottom of hooker glacier. Two people even went in for a quick dip in the ice cold water!

Day 1-Mt Somers Track

Thursday 20th Mar
Our first day was a rainy one! Little creek bends and tracks turned into flowing rivulets we had to cross on the return! We walked to Woolshed creek hut, had lunch and returned in torrential downpours!

And we’re off!

Thursday 20th Mar
We’re half way through our #trekforrights2025 and loving the challenges coming our way! Here’s a little catch up… Day 1-Mt Somers Track to Woolshed Creek Hut (in very rainy conditions!) Day 2-Hooker Valley Track to the glacier terminal lake & return. Day 3-(today) Sealy tarns track up 2200+ steps with 590m+ elevation climb

Training plan

Tuesday 29th Oct
Today I’ve been getting myself organized and working through the training plans we’ve been sent to help us get ready for this Trek! I’ve worked out what I can do and added them all into my diaries from now til when we go next year, added habit trackers to keep me motivated and made it fit in with my schedule. Here’s to planning to succeed!

What your donations support!

Friday 11th Oct

Thankful!

Sunday 8th Sep
I am so incredibly thankful for the ongoing support I've received this week as more people have found out I'm participating in this trek for rights. Special thanks to Val & Lynn & an anonymous donation which I'll be adding this week! 
Today I want to share another story about how these donations help make a difference to the lives of women in Zanzibar, Tanzania. In this region, women spend 3 times as many hours on unpaid care work as men do. UN Women have established three childcare centres in the region to help alleviate this burden and create new opportunities for economic empowerment.
For women like Munira (pictured), mother of 6, and grandmother to a 2-yr-old, these childcare centres are a game-changer, allowing her to know her children and grandchildren are looked after while she focuses fully on her work cultivating sea-moss. 
Your support allows UN Women to provide nearly 900 rural women with entrepreneurship and financial literacy training, and helped form 60 village savings and loan associations. 
Looking to the future, Murina dreams of expanding her sea moss business, and the provision of childcare allows for her to pursue that vision and empowers her to improve her family's well-being and future. 
Thank you again for your donations to support this good work! 

15kms & FAQs

Saturday 24th Aug
Today I walked 15.35km (21625 steps) as I explored the Mornington Peninsula and walked the Cole track to Fort Nepean. I love seeing the beauty of God’s creation, the bay on one side of the land and Bass Strait on the other. So amazing! 

As I walk around and explore my new local area, I’m training to walk from Christchurch to Queenstown across 5 days in March next year - all to raise funds to support the work of UN Women to support women and girls in crisis and conflict areas around the world. 

Here’s what some of your donations could support:
- $38 supports a woman receiving essential supplies including critical information on key services she needs in the Middle East during emergencies, disaster and conflict. 
- $75 can help provide a woman-headed family in Sudan to purchase food items for three days.
- $123 can help build safe, accessible water and toilet facilities to help women and girls maintain their basic health and dignity in Myanmar.
- $306 can help provide transportation for four women or girls in the Middle East in the event of a natural disaster. 

Some of the FAQs I’ve received recently have been:
Are donations tax deductible? YES they are and as soon as you’ve donated online, you'll receive a tax receipt in your inbox :)
Where do I donate? Online! Just hit the donate button on my fundraising page and follow the prompts!
Is it a one-off donation or ongoing? The donations on my fundraising page are all one-off. Of course if you want to donate more than once, you’re most welcome to - just follow the same process as above. If you decide in future to donate to UN Women Australia, you can arrange that directly with them. 

To break it down, I have goals to help me meet my target along the way - the first one is that by the end of August, I will have raised $500. Currently, I’ve raised $212 so have $288 to go for this one - that’s 6 people giving $48. Can you help?

Ultimately, to reach the target of $3000, it’s about 60 people giving $50 each - very doable. 

Thanks to everyone who’s already supported me and thanks to those considering donating to UN Women! 


The work of UN Women in Afghanistan

Friday 16th Aug
This week marked 3 years since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, and in those 3 years, the rights of women and girls have dwindled significantly. 

- Women and girls are banned from public spaces like parks, gyms and sports clubs
- Girls are banned from attending secondary school and university
- Women are no longer allowed to hold public administrations roles; their presence in the private sector has been drastically reduced; and many women-owned businesses (like salons) have been forcibly closed
- Women and girls are confined to the home and this has had significant mental health implications, limiting their access to physical exercise, social networks and communities, and adequate hygiene and sanitation facilities

UN Women is one of the only UN arms working directly with and funding grassroots organisations that are on the ground. This is one of the most effective ways to reach women and girls, respond to their needs, and invest in one of the few sectors where women can still influence decision-making. 

In the latest press briefing given by the UN Country Representative of Afghanistan, Alison Davidian, she says: “We cannot leave Afghan women to fight alone. If we do, we have no moral ground to fight for women’s rights anywhere. Their fate determines the fate of women everywhere.”

Will you join the fight for women's rights and make a donation?

Your donations to UN Women go toward funding dedicated programs to counter the erasure of women and girls and also facilitate safe spaces to Afghan women to speak freely and advocate for themselves. 

Thank you to those who've already donated! 

So… how does all this work?

Sunday 11th Aug
Great Question! 

In the lead up to our Trek for Rights 2025, each of the participants will be raising much needed funds to support women and girls in crisis situations around the world. 
Then, in March, we’ll be going on a 5-day trek from Christchurch to Queenstown. Each night we’ll stay in accommodation to rest before continuing our trek the next day.

Day 1: 18th March we walk 10km, 5-6 hours from Christchurch to Methven (moderate)
Day 2: 19th March we start in Mackenzie Country and finish at Lake Tekapo, about 3-4 hours, 10km (easy)
Day 3: 20th March we hike up 2,200 steps to Hooker and Mueller Glaciers, 6-7 hours, 10km (moderate)
Day 4: 21st March we’ll hike along Lakes Wanaka & Hawea, 3 hours, 8km (moderate)
Day 5: 22nd March, finally we hike along the Rob Roy Track to Queenstown, 4 hours, 10km (moderate)

So, what next?
I start training and fundraising… and you start donating! ;) 

Thank You

$1,000

Anonymous Donation

$520

Bevan Whelan

$420

John & Jean Gilbert

Sounds a great project and we hope you will get really good weather to enjoy New Zealand at it's best. We look forward to seeing the photos

$300

Melody & Stephen

Belated Happy Birthday 💛 Praying for good weather & safe trekking … & looking forward to your photos along the way xx

$263.75

Dad

Dad & mum also Uncle Wilf & Aunty Betty donated.

$211

Michael O’ryan

$200

Claudia Mauracher

Go, Amy This is such an important issue to support.

$200

Sally, Derek, Caitlin, Sean And Cara L

Go Amy!! What a fantastic idea..... have an amazing time.

$106.12

Carol Clark

Hi Amy. I think this is a wonderful initiative and it's great to see you as a female Christian leader participating and communicating your faith and values in this way.

$105.50

Anonymous

Happy Birthday Amy

$105.50

Katie

Love this cause and you. Praying that your walks would be soaked in prayer and that you'd be open to God's promptings and possibilities all along the way.

$100

Pam

$80.25

Janet

Thank you, Amy, for supporting this great cause!

$75

Bridget Penington

$75

Angela Cook

How fun!! Good on you Amy!

$54.12

Gillian Tong

Well done Amy on your commitment to this cause and to all the training you are doing in preparation for the walk. Wishing you a great time on the trek. 🌷

$52.75

Natalie Dixon

🚶🏻‍♀️🙏🚶🏻‍♀️

$52.75

Sandra Bonnici

A very worthy cause Amily and I admire your commitment to achieving this challenging walk. You are an inspiration to us all!

$52.75

Shiny Withers

Great cause to support and go you, undertaking a trek! God bless your service to him in all the different ways! And happy birthday!

$52.75

Nici And Peter Stanley

Happy birthday Amy x

$52.75

Sarah

A great cause to be fundraising for Amy- all the best for your walking!

$52.75

Sharyn Coffey

Well done Amy, amazing job

$50

Pamela And Vaughan

Go you Amy. Love this cause. Love you! Miss you and happy birthday 🎂

$50

Philly Lohmeyer-collins

$50

Anonymous

$50

Val Cole

$50

Lynn Gao

$40.47

Anonymous

$40.09

Anonymous

$40.09

Brittany Gall

Good luck with your trek Amy! A great cause to support 🩷

$38

Anonymous

All the best Amy! Enjoy the trek :))

$31.65

Courteney Gall

Way to go Amy! So proud of you for taking on this trek for an amazing cause, wishing you luck from wollongong ♡

$31.65

Kim And Dallas

Thanks for doing this Amy. Wishing you all the best with your fundraising and the trek.

$26.38

Nikita Castellano

$23.21

Oscar Your Dog

$21.10

Zoe V

❤️