Fun and fitness for women’s education

WORKOUT for Women this Saturday morning in Ballarat North.

PerFit Training Centre will host a fundraiser for the Esther Education Foundation, a Ballarat-run charity which sponsors girls and women so they can gain access to an education in their developing countries.

Lecturer Mellita Jones founded the charity in 2018, having travelled to the Solomon Islands with Australian Catholic University’s teaching students.

“A 23-year-old girl there called Esther was desperate to become a teacher. She came to me asking what I could do to help,” she said.

“When she was 16, her father had tried to marry her off to a 60-year-old man to settle a dispute between two villages. She ran away, tried to fend for herself, and get an education.”

Ms Jones assisted Esther to finish year 11 and 12, get into teachers’ college, and become a qualified teacher.

The Esther Education Foundation was born of her “courageous” story and life experience. Applicants can apply for a scholarship if they’re from a developing area, and their gender has impacted their ability to access education.

“There is huge research that talks about the importance of educating women, and what that does in terms of a community ripple effect.

“They educate their children, have less children, and then there are environmental and social impacts there,” Ms Jones said.

“It’s important that we support these women, give them opportunities and make a difference. They live in countries where gender inequity is quite overt.”

PerFit managing director, Anthony Ebery said the Workout for Women is open to anyone of any age and fitness level, including families.

“It’s a mixture of working out, teambuilding and fun, including minute-to-win-it-style games,” he said.

“We won’t just be sweating it out for a couple of hours, there’ll be lots of laughter as we raise awareness and funds for the Foundation.”

Register via esthereducationfoundation.org/events by midday on Friday, 12 March. Individuals can participate for $30, students or concessions are $25, and families are $50.

Bring a buddy to be eligible for the family rate and 100 per cent of all proceeds go to the Foundation.

Arrive at 9am on Saturday, 13 March for registrations before activities kick off at 9.30am. A sausage sizzle will follow the fun.