At Grass Skirt Project, we believe that sport can play a fundamental role in the elimination of gender-based violence; it is a language that transcends barriers and is a proven and powerful vehicle for social change.
In 2016 when Tahina Booth - a PNG dual-international athlete came to train in Papua New Guinea, she recognised the lack of access for athletes to appropriate equipment. Encouraged by the support and profile she developed during her time in PNG, and determined to help, she returned to Sydney and put a call out to her sporting community. She asked her Facebook followers to help her source equipment to send to PNG for distribution into local communities. The response was overwhelming, and Grass Skirt Project was born. Fast forward 3 years and Grass Skirt Project has grown into one of the most dynamic and exciting NGOs in Papua New Guinea.
Co-founded by Tahina and her best friend, research scientist Dr Sofia Bartlett, Grass Skirt Project is, at its heart, a story of how women working together can empower each other to achieve incredible things. Tahina and Sofia had a vision to combine gender-inclusive sporting programs with research activities to create gender equity, address family and sexual violence and build stronger, more resilient communities.
Led by a dynamic team of highly skilled and passionate individuals, Grass Skirt Project’s core leadership team is complemented by three extraordinary men, Alistair Stolz, Kila Mala and David Westley; all representative athletes turned lawyer, international master trainer and international rugby league coach.
Although the issue is a universal one, statistics in Papua New Guinea around sexual violence are truly staggering with over 58% percent of women experiencing sexual or intimate partner violence in their lifetime. women of the Grass Skirt Project have experienced either family or sexual violence firsthand and understand the importance of harnessing healthy emotional outlets, both preventatively and therapeutically. The cases for participation in sports and artistic uptake are incredibly effective on personal, interpersonal and wider social levels.
We partner with local organisations to deliver training, education programs, and events to participating athletes in the community and also engage local ambassadors and support PNG sporting organisations through strategic partnerships which provides athletes pathways into high-performance sports, which further develop talent and create positive role models.
Grass Skirt Project has identified new opportunities to both refine and expand our programs by focusing on unique concepts that complement each other and run in tandem. In addition to our Hevea Cup Wellness Expo taking place from 5-7th March at the National Football Stadium. In 2019 we also completed a successful National Art Prize Competition aimed at addressing important social issues and fostering social cohesion by starting conversations through art and launched the Gym-in-a-box concept which enables easier access to health & wellness in villages.
In 2016 when Tahina Booth - a PNG dual-international athlete came to train in Papua New Guinea, she recognised the lack of access for athletes to appropriate equipment. Encouraged by the support and profile she developed during her time in PNG, and determined to help, she returned to Sydney and put a call out to her sporting community. She asked her Facebook followers to help her source equipment to send to PNG for distribution into local communities. The response was overwhelming, and Grass Skirt Project was born. Fast forward 3 years and Grass Skirt Project has grown into one of the most dynamic and exciting NGOs in Papua New Guinea.
Co-founded by Tahina and her best friend, research scientist Dr Sofia Bartlett, Grass Skirt Project is, at its heart, a story of how women working together can empower each other to achieve incredible things. Tahina and Sofia had a vision to combine gender-inclusive sporting programs with research activities to create gender equity, address family and sexual violence and build stronger, more resilient communities.
Led by a dynamic team of highly skilled and passionate individuals, Grass Skirt Project’s core leadership team is complemented by three extraordinary men, Alistair Stolz, Kila Mala and David Westley; all representative athletes turned lawyer, international master trainer and international rugby league coach.
Although the issue is a universal one, statistics in Papua New Guinea around sexual violence are truly staggering with over 58% percent of women experiencing sexual or intimate partner violence in their lifetime. women of the Grass Skirt Project have experienced either family or sexual violence firsthand and understand the importance of harnessing healthy emotional outlets, both preventatively and therapeutically. The cases for participation in sports and artistic uptake are incredibly effective on personal, interpersonal and wider social levels.
We partner with local organisations to deliver training, education programs, and events to participating athletes in the community and also engage local ambassadors and support PNG sporting organisations through strategic partnerships which provides athletes pathways into high-performance sports, which further develop talent and create positive role models.
Grass Skirt Project has identified new opportunities to both refine and expand our programs by focusing on unique concepts that complement each other and run in tandem. In addition to our Hevea Cup Wellness Expo taking place from 5-7th March at the National Football Stadium. In 2019 we also completed a successful National Art Prize Competition aimed at addressing important social issues and fostering social cohesion by starting conversations through art and launched the Gym-in-a-box concept which enables easier access to health & wellness in villages.