why Project Esther?

This is why.....Project Esther do such wonderful work in the community. I asked Daphne why she works for Project Esther and continues to do what she and many others do each day. What she had to say made me ever so thankful we are able to support this Charitable Trust by creating Elements- A Market Experience and proudly supporting Project Esther.

"Some women are meant to change the world, while others are meant to hold it together. And then there are those of us who simply don't want to be in it, because we know no matter how much we struggle, we can't comfortably fit." Jodi Picoult

Project Esther is about all of the above. We seek to connect with women and families with a bias to the more vulnerable. None of us would put up our hands and say “Pick me to be the one who will struggle, pick me as the one who will feel less than.” And what’s more, when one’s life is impacted by significant suffering, the resources of empowerment and for flourishing often are drained away in order to just survive, to just manage.

Project Esther works with women parenting on their own, young and old, women in prison and out, those with debt issues and many in need of emergency accommodation  for reasons which include: mental health struggles, abuse histories, being left with the children by a lover, partner or husband or being an immigrant  and poor.

The most vulnerable families in our community are often lead by amazing women navigating the concrete outcomes of policies implemented by powerfully resourced political decision makers. To such women, the Christchurch  climate of: accommodation shortages, welfare benefit alignments, reducing funds for domestic abuse advocacy for lawyers, cuts in mental health services and in corrections means women plunged into life’s grief’s don’t meet with justice. None of us would say “Pick me” or “Pick my daughter”.

So for Project Esther to be noticed and picked by Elements is such a delight and something of a joining of changing, holding and caring for those of us who are struggling… thanks stall holders ,creative people and organisers. It means a lot.

- Daphne Gracie Marsden For Project Esther Charitable Trust

We are excited to be supporting such wonderful work so please spread the word for this market!