Naaree – a women’s Facebook Group established during the lockdown on April 15, organised an event last Sunday at the Shanti Niwas premises in Onehunga, Auckland, with the aim of empowering women, bring them out of the COVID-19 slumber, and give women businesses a platform to showcase their products.

A brainchild of Gargi Trivedi, Kashika Singh and team, who run the Group, the event saw 170 plus attendees, and had participation from various community and business organisations led by women leaders including Shanti Niwas, Hello World Travel, Mehal Mua and Ishk Creations Jewellery.

“Our aim is to bring all women in New Zealand, who are working full time, or are home-makers, or are pursuing their own business, to come under one umbrella, have fun and meet each other. We wanted to keep it short and sweet as this was one of those first catch up’s after the lockdown. There was dance, music, food and fun. All we wanted was every woman to come and enjoy herself,” says Tirvedi.

Priyanca Radhakrishnan, Labour List MP based in Maungakiekie, also attended the event to celebrate the naaree shakti and women entrepreneurship in New Zealand.

Meanwhile, the business participants were visibly happy with the response of the attendees, the organisers informed, adding “there were no special guest, no special speech, no political aspect and absolutely no men in the event. It was all about making every Naaree feel special, reflecting the fact that every woman is special, no matter what”.

More information about the Naaree Facebook group is here www.facebook.com/groups/219306752709343

-Vritti Parasher