Empowering young environmentalist women

Celebrate, uplift and support young environmentalist women, that’s the goal of Envirohub Marlborough’s recently launched Zoe Luffman’s Environmental Fund.

Zoe after a beach clean-up

The fund was created in memory of Zoe, one of Envirohub's first Conservation Kids New Zealand (CKNZ) programme participants. “She was an incredible young environmentalist who was doing so much to protect her local environment that meant so much to her”, commented Ailie Suzuki, the hub’s General Manager.

“We watched her grow up to do incredible things in our community and become a true environmentalist as she became a young adult. Her parents provided CKNZ and Envirohub Marlborough a portion of funds raised in her memory and we wished fervently to utilise these funds in a way that would honour her and keep her memory and legacy alive. After much discussion with her family, we came up with the idea of celebrating young environmentalist women, just like Zoe, in our region by distributing small amounts of the fund twice a year, and providing support in anyway we could in addition to the funds.”

The ReFloat team - photo credit William Woodworth, Marlborough Weekly

The fund runs twice a year and provides a grant and mentorship to the selected projects. The first recipients were Marlborough Girls’ College students Bess Cuddon-Corlet, Laura Elliot-Whale and Sydney White, with their project ReFloat which turns old pool toys into practical and cute waterproof bags.

“Besides the financial support, we provide them with mentorship and other means of support. Even if it is simply someone to provide advice, connect them with the right people in our community and beyond, and to show them that they are not alone in their fight to protect what matters”, adds Ailie.

More info about the Zoe’s Fund at www.envirohub.co.nz/zoefund.