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

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

$131.88

Alice Ishwar

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

$129.76

Jo Rhodes

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

$105.50

Belinda Greenwood-smith

$105.50

Anonymous

Better have the wet weather gear

$105.50

Christen Ribas

$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

Sgs

$105.50

Sutton

Brett

$105.50

John & Trish Greenwood-smith

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

$105.50

Drew Grenwood-smith

$84.40

Sophie Freidel

$79.13

James Fordyce

Enjoy yourself, and for a good cause!

$52.75

Jean Watson

$52.75

Sherelle

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

$52.75

Felicity Heale

Best wishes, keep walking. Love, Felicity.

$40.09

Annette Webb

good luck, great cause!