My name is Rose Dash, and I have made the commitment to join the UN Women Australia Trek for Rights June 2024 with my teammates Bec and Ally to help raise money for the UN Women Second Chance Education Program. Come June we will hike six days and over 50km of the Northern Territory’s Larapinta Trail.

For over the past decade I have had the privilege of working closely with refugee and migrant communities here in Australia, and have been a volunteer with UN Women Australia since 2021.

Over the years, I've witnessed the incredible resilience of women and their families, who have faced unimaginable challenges, many who have experienced limited access or disrupted education. Their stories of strength, determination and uncovering their potential have left a lasting impact on me.

Still today, half a billion of the world's illiterate adults are women. Shockingly, this trend hasn't budged in 20 years. During times of conflict, girls are 2.5 times more likely to drop out of school than boys, and a staggering 48% of out-of-school girls are unlikely to ever have the chance to enroll.

That's why I'm passionate about supporting UN Women's Second Chance Education Program. This program is dedicated to reaching women who have missed out on an education due to cultural barriers, gender-based violence, conflict, early marriage, and childhood pregnancy. It's about ensuring that no one gets left behind.

With your donation, we can make sure that women receive the tools and opportunities they need to break the cycle of illiteracy and poverty, and to participate fully in their communities and in the digital world.