The management program is a part of Tennis Australia’s Pacific Girls and Ladies in Tennis – Rising on to the World Stage program.
Fiji, 10 September 2024 | tennis.com.au
Eleven ladies from throughout the Pacific nations have joined forces for a Pacific Girls Leaders in Tennis workshop in Fiji.
The management program is a part of Tennis Australia’s Pacific Girls and Ladies in Tennis – Rising on to the World Stage program. Supported by the Australian Authorities’s elite sports activities pathways program, PacificAusSports, this system goals to help and empower Pacific ladies to take up management positions each on and off the courtroom by means of skilled improvement and networking alternatives.
The ladies got here collectively from throughout eight nations – Fiji, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu – for the third yr of the joint mission initiative.
This yr, this system featured a two-day workshop in Fiji on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 September, offering a platform for the ladies to come back collectively, share experiences and improve their abilities and data in tennis management and administration.
The workshop coincided with the launch of the Oceania Tennis Federation Benefit All Motion Plan (2024-2027) – which focuses on advancing gender equality inside Pacific member nations, creating equal alternatives for all to take part, succeed and lead in tennis.
Fijian Assistant Minister for Girls, Youngsters and Social Safety Sashi Kiran attended the launch and delivered a keynote speech.
“The initiative marks a big milestone in our collective journey in direction of rising, creating and selling tennis in addition to empowering our Pacific feminine tennis gamers throughout our stunning Oceania area,” Kiran mentioned.
Yvonne Carruthers is the present president of the Tennis Federation in Samoa and her involvement at Tennis Samoa has been ongoing for 28 years.
As a mom of 5 ladies, she taught all of them tennis from an early age. She has additionally given again to her tennis group in roles corresponding to coach, administrator official, guardian educator, workforce supervisor, mentor to younger gamers, faculty applications supervisor, cleaner, janitor and event director.
Carruthers was one of many ladies who took half within the Pacific Girls Leaders in Tennis workshop.
“”We had been so blessed to be a part of it – the teachings for ladies in management was wonderful – it’s opened up my eyes and made issues clearer for me – displaying me how I can contribute and assemble our board and our Tennis Samoa administration,” she mentioned.
“The very best reminiscence is simply being along with different ladies leaders from different island nations and listen to what they’re going by means of. It has inspired me as a lady that if we’ve daughters, we will nurture them to be leaders.”
Tonga was represented within the Pacific Girls Leaders in Tennis program for the primary time, with Tonga Tennis Affiliation board member Karen Fonua participating.
“Being the primary time representing my nation, it looks like I’m taking up a duty and has given me some braveness to have the ability to take one thing again house with me,” she mentioned.
“Tennis Australia is pleased with our ongoing relationship with the Pacific and our partnership with nationwide federations to empower ladies leaders in tennis,” Director of Authorities, Social Affect and Stakeholder Relations Vicki Reid mentioned.
“It was inspiring to see ladies from throughout the Pacific collaborating within the workshop, showcasing a collective dedication to advancing tennis inside their communities.
“Encouraging ladies to step into management roles is essential for making certain that girls and ladies have an equal voice and the facility to form selections. Extra ladies in management positions will create a extra welcoming, secure and inclusive surroundings for everybody.”
The Appearing Chief Govt Officer and Board Chairman of the Fiji Sports activities Council Gilbert Vakalalabure, President of Tennis Fiji Romil Patel and different members of the Council additionally attended the occasion.
The Pacific ladies leaders will meet once more for on-line workshops in November and December earlier than graduating this system throughout Australian Open 2025.
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