Women's Weekend builds skills and social links

Siva Samoan dance will be taught at the REAP woman's weekend along with felting, rongoa Maori medicines, bunting and funding application success.

Women are invited to take part in a special weekend designed to offer them support, a chance to learn and to extend their networks.

The Wairarapa REAP Glenburn Station Women's Weekend is being held this weekend, November 1-3.

REAP education team leader Wendel Richardson said the weekends had been running for the past 16 years, with three generally held annually at different venues across the region.

They are part of the service's ongoing adult education programme.

At next weekend's event, local artist Jenny Sadler will be showing those attending how to involve felt in a blanket square to create a picture.

On Saturday Siva Samoan dance will be taught, along with rongoa Maori medicines and fun with bunting.

On Sunday, Makuina Kerehi will reveal strategies on how to ensure funding application success to those attending.

The weekends were specifically targeted at women and offered rural women a chance to come together to learn new skills and build their networks in a fun environment, Ms Richardson said.

It was hoped about 25 women would take part as this size group offered the chance to keep it friendly, informal and welcoming, she said.

"Women's weekends have been going strong for over 16 years and those taking part especially value the chance to try something new, and recharge their batteries while having time away from the demands of family, home and work. Many of the women who come along are quite isolated and find the chance to build on their local networks worthwhile," she said.

It costs $40 to attend the weekend which includes accommodation, meals and workshops.

To find out more contact Wairarapa REAP on (06) 377 1379.