Having flown out on Monday, Kerry Harrington, Megan Lindsay, Heather Tripp, Philip Snedden and Ella, Lucy, and Gabby Harrex will be heading over to the Homes of Hope in Suva, Fiji to spend the next 10 days helping out where it really counts.
Homes of Hope is an organisation who work to support young women and girls affected by sexual abuse and trafficking. The Gore Baptists heading over with the help of charitable organisation Tearfund.
When there, the group will help provide shelter, counselling, education, and community outreach for those most vulnerable people, with an emphasis as well on simply building relationships between themselves and the girls in the programme.
Lucy Harrex, along with her two sisters, found out about the opportunity through the Gore Baptist Church, and said they quickly answered the call for help.
"We’ve always wanted to go and do a mission trip, and somewhere like Fiji which is reasonably local seemed like a good opportunity to do so.
"I think it’s very important [to go], especially because we’re so privileged over here. We’ll see a different side of Fiji, I think it will help broaden our perspectives on what we have here," she said.
Ms Harrex said she and the group were excited to head over and volunteer, finding the chance to get out and do good too valuable of an opportunity to pass up.
Tearfund were a massive help as well, she said. The organisation had helped to bring volunteers and provide support to the Homes of Hope for several years, and multiple missions.
Megan Linsday said although she was aware what they would be combatting was a large problem in scope, the group were building blocks in a greater mission, and was ready help in a very quantifiable and vital manner.
"We are over there to love these girls, and lend our helping hand to where we can and hopefully we see. We might not be the one to see the outcomes of what we do, but groups to come will see the ongoing changes.
"Whatever we are asked to go for, we’ll put our hands up, ready," she said.
