A 155 community project that works with Whangārei mothers to tap into their business-building dreams and aspirations is flourishing.
Māmā Moving Mountains is a māmā-driven collective that inspires whānau to aspire by creating opportunities.
"We are doing this by looking at their dreams, aspirations and desires and then supporting them with the resources to make it a reality,” says coordinator Shirleyanne Brown.
Participants, who often face similar challenges and share the same aspirations, come together each week to support and celebrate who they are.
“It’s a lovely nurturing place for wāhine to realise and share their dreams and aspirations. We focus on mums because they have absolute talent and are an incredible resource of our nation.
“When you’re at home, you’re looking at how to make things go further, recycle and do things differently. This kind of thinking translates well into business.”
Developing successful small businesses
Since it's launch in 2020, Shirleyanne says a number of creative digital micro-businesses have evolved among participants.
“The lockdown sparked passion in a lot of our wāhine, to consider what else they can do in terms of income.”
One concept in development is digital greeting cards that can be translated into Māori.
“We then connect our mothers with people and businesses who can support them in refining the product.”
My Why sister programme launches
Another achievement for Māmā Moving Mountains is the recent launch of My Why, a six-week peer-to-peer facilitated process for wahine to set and achieve goals.
Shirlyanne says this is a “great milestone” given the programme has been created by two Mothers Moving Mountains participants, Harlee and Kayla.
“The process allows participants to sit in their beauty as wāhine and to reflect on their goals, while giving them some tips, tricks and resources to support them in achieving these goals.”
