Amplify Our Impact

Champion WomenzShed in Your Community

When women have the skills, tools, and confidence to build, repair, and create, they have independence and life-long skills. But opportunities to learn those skills have not been equally accessible for a very long time.  So what can you do to help?

We believe every supporter has the power to amplify our mission, not only the women who pick up a saw at our workshops.  By speaking about WomenzShed in your own networks you can help more women gain skills, foster greater confidence, and create more opportunities for women to enter spaces such as ‘Men’s Sheds’ and traditionally male dominated trades such as carpentry and cabinetry.

Ways to be a Champion

  • Share your story with us — share your woodworking stories with us and help inspire others.

  • Share our story — Tell friends, family, and colleagues about what we do and why it matters.

  • Invite us to your events — Home and Garden Shows, Women in Trade events, International Women’s or Mother’s Day celebrations.

  • Connect us — Introduce us to potential partners, donors, or venues.

  • Show us off — Post about WomenzShed on your social media.

  • Bring someone along — Encourage a woman you know to join a workshop.

Emma's story

When Emma first walked into the WomenzShed workshop, she’d never held a power drill before and the sight of the machinery was very intimidating.  “I looked at the blades and thought, there’s no way I’m going to use that,” she remembers. “I was worried I would stand out as the one who couldn’t do it.”

But within the first hour, Emma was measuring and cutting timber with a power saw. The teacher encouraged her to take it one step at a time. Within the space of a day she was assembling her first woodwork project, a wētā hotel.  She went home with a real sense of “I can actually do this”.

Since then, Emma has used her new skills to fix cupboard shelves, build a shoe rack, and help a friend put together a bed for her daughter. “Now, instead of calling someone in for every little repair, I will have a go at it myself first,” she says. “I’ve saved money, gained confidence, and I’m even teaching my kids how to use tools safely.”

Emma’s story is just one of hundreds of women who, when they learn these skills, they also build confidence, they gain independence and ultimately make stronger, more equitable communities.