Belinda's NZ Trek for Women's Rights 2025

By Belinda Greenwood-Smith

Why I'm fundraising for women and girls in crisis

In March 2025, I will be taking part in a 5 day Trek for Rights in the Southern NZ Alps to raise funds to help support the efforts of UN Women, who work in partnership with local women’s organisations to provide critical services, hope and a lifeline support to women and girls in war-torn countries and communities affected by natural disasters.

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.

 



My Achievements

My Updates

Aoraki, Selina and Me

Thursday 20th Mar

Made it!

Thursday 20th Mar
I reached my target and am currently in NZ trekking away! A stunning country with pristine nature- like another planet!
First day was a 5 hour hike in Hobbit land - didn’t get to see much due to the pouring rain and was utterly drenched to my socks, but apparently spectacular scenery. Today another challenging day hiking up and down 900m in Aoraki/Mt Cook national park with my good friend Selina Lo. All worth it for the chicken chips experience at the end of the day!

The group I am hiking with has raised $55 000 for UN women so thank you all again for your donations.

Nearly half-way there!

Friday 4th Oct
Thank you to everyone who has donated so far. I am nearly halfway there with $1200 raised (ever the optimist)!

Thank You

$263.75

Gill P

$234.74

Rmp Team

Thank you for your hard work over the years and we wish you all the best.

$200

Kate & Aaron

$131.88

Alice Ishwar

Thank you, Belinda, for doing this. All the best.

$129.77

Elizabeth Moore

Good luck, jhave fun

$129.76

Jo Rhodes

Good on you Belinda. Hope all that's raised gets to those women who really need it. Jo

$123

Jane Davies

Good luck Belinda, hope it all goes well

$105.50

Anonymous

Better have the wet weather gear

$105.50

Belinda Greenwood-smith

$105.50

Drew Grenwood-smith

$105.50

John & Trish Greenwood-smith

Well done Belinda and Selina for supporting such a good cause. Enjoy your walk.

$105.50

Sutton

Brett

$105.50

Sgs

$105.50

Selina Lo

You are amazing as a person and as a friend Thank you ! I’m so delighted to do this trek with you and thank you for always believing in me and inspiring me to do my best.

$105.50

Christen Ribas

$84.40

Sophie Freidel

$80.25

Paula Binks

Belinda, you are an inspiration!

$80.25

Rosemary Friend

Enjooyyy

$80.25

Amy Rosser

$79.13

Sarah Byrnes

Sounds amazing Belinda, what a great cause, good on you xx

$79.13

James Fordyce

Enjoy yourself, and for a good cause!

$54.12

Richard Murias

$54.12

Kyran Smith

$54.12

Emily Vintour-cesar

$52.75

Bec Strickland

Good luck - great cause

$52.75

Felicity Heale

Best wishes, keep walking. Love, Felicity.

$52.75

Sherelle

All the best Belinda. It’s unfortunate that these kinds of initiatives are still needed.

$52.75

Jean Watson

$40.09

Annette Webb

good luck, great cause!

$31.65

Fiona Pringle

Thanks Belinda for your efforts to assist women who have so little

$30

Ellie Woodward

Good luck!!!

$20

Lorraine Gepperth