InterAktive - January 2018

Women’s motorcross star supports project
empowering more girls to be active
Women’s motocross star Courtney Duncan has put her support behind
HERA – Everyday Goddess, which empowers 10-18 year old girls to be active.
Funded by Sport New Zealand, Aktive, Auckland
Council and New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT),
the Aktive-led project takes a participant-led approach
to engaging girls in sport and recreation in Auckland.
Current New Zealand Senior Woman’s Champion,
and with eyes on the World title, Courtney is excited
to use her story and experience to help engage girls
to participate in sport and recreation through HERA –
Everyday Goddess.
“It is so important for all girls to have the chance to be
active and do so in a way that has their needs as the
focus,” says Courtney.
“As a female, there are many factors that can stop us
from wanting to participate in sport or just being active.
I hope my journey can help other girls
see that you can be active in a way
that is unique to you. At the end of
the day it is all about giving it a go
and having fun.”
Sport New Zealand data from
its most recent Young People’s
survey (2011) identified a much
lower level of participation in sport
and recreation among teenage girls
than teenage boys (63.3% versus 73.8%
among 11 to 14-year-olds). These figures fell
to 47.8% and 61.6% for teens aged 15 to
18-years.
Recognising and reducing the barriers
to participation that young women face
in undertaking sport and recreation
opportunities underpins the HERA –
Everyday Goddess project. It is focused
on reverting the trend in drop off
rates in participation and supporting
girls in physical activity through
various programmes including a
Samoan language girls-only
cricket programme run out
of Papatoetoe Cricket
Club or a partnership
with OnBoard Skate
for the Sisters of Shred
programme.
Dr Sarah Sandley CEO Aktive is pleased with the
progress of the innovative project. With Courtney
as an ambassador, it is anticipated it will go from
strength to strength.
“More than 1500 girls have been engaged in either
formal or informal sport and recreation opportunities
through HERA – Everyday Goddess,” says Dr Sandley.
“We are confident that with the support of a young
female rising star like Courtney this will continue to
increase.
She adds: “Girls aged 10-18 years are one of Sport
New Zealand’s targeted participation groups. HERA
puts the needs and interests of the girls we are trying to
help to be more active at the centre – the “HERA girls”
themselves shape the programme. We figure this is the
best way to achieve our goal of previously sedentary
girls leading a more active life.”
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