An update from old friends.

Those of you who have been following our journey for some time may remember our long-standing relationship with Project Esther, a local organisation that has been supporting Canterbury's most vulnerable women for 30 years. Recently, we had the pleasure of hearing from Project Esther on some of their updates in the women’s reintegration space. 

Daphne, Project Esther's Manager and Trustee, shared some encouraging news about their increased capacity. "We've been given the use of another house for temporary emergency accommodation," she explained. "We turn away people most weeks because our existing houses are always at capacity. So when another trust came along and entered into an agreement where we can use a place they have, it was genuinely life-changing." 

The first wāhine to move into this new accommodation was a family with a protection order, which shows the critical nature of Project Esther's ability to house people. This supportive accommodation includes weekly social work visits, helping women navigate practical challenges like WINZ support, school enrolment, healthcare access, and often language barriers for those new to New Zealand. 

Pathway has collaborated with Project Esther in several ways over the years, but most notably through He Kete Oranga o te Mana Wāhine, where Project Esther provides spiritual reflection sessions and creative arts workshops for the women. This creates a judgement free space for self expression and faith exploration, a first for many of the women at He Kete. 

We also collaborate with Project Esther through our Bike Program, where some of the bicycles restored by young men in Christchurch Men's Prison youth unit are donated to women supported by Project Esther. This connection means young men in the justice system are contributing to helping vulnerable women in the community. Even this small gesture is a step towards rewriting the stories of the men and women that both Pathway and Project Esther work with. 

Daphne reflects on how she'd like to see this movement continue: "Jesus leaned into and had a bias to the overlooked and the oppressed, and that's our calling. Women often are at the bottom of the heap. Somehow we need to find ways that their story can be expressed and outrage can be a response, and justice can come."

This shared commitment to restoration continues to strengthen our collaborative relationship, complementing Pathway's work with men through meaningful partnership that benefits the broader Canterbury community. 

Project Esther is currently seeking donations of winter items including woollen blankets, bedding, and clothing in good condition. They also welcome household items such as plates, cups, pots, and pans to support women establishing their homes. 

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