Michelle Joan Ngakai

Youth Culture and Empowerment - Aotearoa, New Zealand (Oceania)

For many women in New Zealand, violence is a frightening reality. Statistics show one woman is killed by her partner or ex-partner every five weeks, while 3% of all women fear being killed by their partner. Michelle believes a lack of education and readily available resources as factors contributing to the grim situation in her country. For the last four years, Michelle has worked with the YWCA of Aotearoa to foster positive change for young women on both a local and national level. As a young Maori woman, Michelle is aware of the special needs of women from Indigenous and minority groups.

Michelle coordinates the Y-Dub Network, a nationwide network run by young women, for young women. The Network incorporates a variety of workshops, an interactive website and an annual publication, which Michelle describes as “an alternative to those glossy women’s magazines that put unrealistic expectations of body image onto women.”