Belinda's Trek for Rights 2025

Why I'm fundraising for women and girls in crisis

Why am I doing this?

When I worked in Afghanistan in 1998, I saw first-hand the particular forms of suffering experienced by women in unsafe environments of conflict or occupation.  I witnessed and remember the desperation of the woman forced into marriage with a Taliban soldier, the woman with a psychotic breakdown from the stress of the isolation, the woman who died in childbirth when her husband refused medical help as there were no female clinicians available, the sadness of the uni students unable to finish their education and pursue a career, the women forced to beg or prostitute themselves to support their children whose husbands had been killed in the war.

There are 614 million women and girls living in conflict zones today and while it is impossible to help all of them, I know that it will make a big difference for those few who do receive some support. If it were you, me, our sisters, cousins, mothers, aunts and friends, we would be grateful for any help we could get, if at least to know we were not so alone.

My aim is to raise $3000 for the cause. Please support me in this effort with whatever you are able to spare, in knowing that all funds go directly to UN women and your money will be deeply appreciated by those who receive the support.

Note: Donations are tax deductible and these funds do not pay for my travel costs, which I will be paying myself.