“EMPOWERING WOMEN THROUGH SELF ESTEEM” A project to present a different perspective on stopping family
violence
Putting the fence at the top of the hill…… not at the
bottom.
BPWNZ has worked for over 70 years with a long term commitment
to empowering women and to eradicate violence against women and
children. In conjunction with:
The Rua & Clarrie Stevens Charitable Trust (the Trust)
who has been actively
involved in philanthropic work in the New Zealand community
for 30 years.
Dove Self-Esteem Fund, received numerous awards and recognition
in Mexico and internationally, recently been nominated for most
socially responsible publication in specialized media.
would like to introduce international speaker Christina Berton
with her dynamic message of empowering women through strengthening
their personal self esteem.
The Purpose of this Tour To empower women and girls to help develop a stronger self
esteem so that they are more competent to cope with the challenges
of life and feel worthy of happiness.
Lyn Dowsett, Sue Morrison-Bailey,
Frances Michel, Christina Berton
in middle, Deborah Bayliss, Ros Stroud MaAdam, Elizabeth
Horrell.This was taken after the presentation in Dunedin
with members
from BPW Dunedin and Southland
Testimonials from the Christina Berton Tour:
From Penny Stevens:
Christina Berton left our shores of Aotearoa to return to Mexico
last Saturday 14 November.
She has taken us with her in her heart and will be back in 2010.
When we left Christina at the airport she was filled with emotion.
Thank you to all of you who supported and connected with her.
Thank you to BPWNZ for having the courage and vision to take
the risk in our 70th year to try and make a difference in the
lives of New Zealanders.
The Tour was a success and all the costs were covered. Approximately
300 attended presentations and workshops.
Our grateful thanks to our sponsors:
Dove Self Esteem Fund Mexico for the flier
David Jones Creative wording for each regions flier
Otago University for the Dunedin venues
BNZ Auckland for workshop venue.
WHERE TO FROM HERE
This started in 2008 and now many women and men have explored
the possibility of making a difference to the issue of violence
in New Zealand.
Hopefully, this will increase with the release of ‘The Liberty
of being Me: Empowering Women Through Self Esteem DVD which is
available for purchase through the website www.rcstevens.org.nz.
The DVD is based on Christina's interview with some footage from
the Auckland presentation and runs for almost 45 minutes. The
DVD's are for personal use as well as group workshops
The Stevens Charitable Trust and Armara Self Esteem Foundation
are working toward a partnership with Dove Self Esteem Fund to
start working in schools with Mother Daughter Workshops in March
2010 targeting 5 schools in the area to start with. Christina
will return to Auckland to run a workshop and train facilitators
to continue spreading the message. Any potential skilled women
in all the other regions of New Zealand who would like to be a
part of the facilitator training for the Mother Daughter workshops
are very welcome to come to Auckland in March to train with Christina
and help develop the Self Esteem project in New Zealand.
Penny Stevens
"I was fortunate enough to go to the Auckland presentation,
what a night! I loved it! I found it to be such an inspiration.
It was amazing seeing the adverts for the beauty products and
the editing to make the women "beautiful" - the standards
they set for young girls. I would recommend this presentation
to everyone as the issue of self steam is one that needs to be
addressed and this gave you the building blocks to start and the
tools to keep going"
Fadowso Abi
"Christina understands all the dimensions of self esteem
and delivers it in such a way that is comforting and nourishing
to the soul. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and I know it
will be of value to all people.
Self esteem underpins all that we are and what we do in life
so if there was one thing we can work on to heal all other things
it is self esteem. I fully endorse this programme."
John Hibbs
COUNSELLOR
"I Dream a Dream.
During the past 6yrs working with High school students I have
been very aware that we need to support our young girls - in particular
around their self care.
There have been a number of programmes around Anger and violence.
I often wondered how effective these programmes were. Some students
became more aware of violent situations and were able to avoid
them, but the majority did these programmes because they were
told to through their parents, teachers or the youth Justice system.
I knew there had to be a better way of getting to everyone that
was along more positive lines.
Then Christina Burton's programme of self esteem was introduced
to me. I identified with this philosophy immediately. The excitement
is intense.
I believe if we can introduce the programme first with "Mothers
and daughters". Then to Teachers and other students (Boys
included) it would eventually be helpful to everyone. We could
then positively effect larger numbers and decrease the issue of
violence.
My Dream could then become reality."
Barbara Te Kare
Social worker Tamaki College
BPW Auckland member
I am writing to recommend a seminar I recently attended at
the University of Otago, Dunedin, NZ. It was entitled "The
Liberty of Being Me" and given by Christina Berton. Self
esteem is a loaded subject for most women as it forces them to
examine their true feelings about themselves and can even provide
insights as to why this lack exists within their emotional /psychological
make-up. Christina was able to present and expand upon female
self esteem with grace, humor and most importantly, honesty. The
result of her deft touch and guidance through the maze of preconceptions,
myths and just plain "stuff" women tend to carry as
their truth was most helpful. I attended this seminar with a friend
and her 16 year old daughter. For the first hour, my friend's
12 year old daughter listened in as she waited for her carpool
to arrive. Rapt attention to the presentation was shown by all
present - even the 12 year old who wanted to hear more. The exercises
were informative and revealing. They were also fun.
In short, I would heartily recommend this series to anyone wishing
further insight into the mysteries women live with and often don't
understand. It left me feeling lighter, more awake and rejuvenated
without unnecessary grief or that all too familiar wash of hopelessness
which can accompany topics such as these when poorly handled.
I appreciate this opportunity to relate my experiences and
the very positive outcome of attending "The Liberty of being
Me". It has already changed some aspects of my life and I
feel sure it will continue to do so.
Valerie Parkinson
Introduction/Biography
of Christina Burton
Born in Canada of Hungarian parents, Christina has spent the last
13 years living and working in Mexico. Christina has developed
a keen eye for the subtle and overt influences that permeate different
cultures and affect every fiber of what it means to be a woman
in diverse circumstances.
Christina’s experience covers:
doctorate degree in Jungian Couples Therapy,
additional specialization in Resonance Repatterning and Family
Systems Therapy,
from 2007, became an advisor for the DOVE Self Esteem Fund
in Mexico speaking to more than 85,000 through conferences and
workshops,
maintains a private practice in Mexico City,
2008, co-founded AMARA Fundación Pro Autoestima (Pro
Self Esteem Foundation) in Mexico City, a not-for-profit organization
dedicated to motivating and empowering people to recognize their
self-worth. AMARA (Greek) meaning “eternal beauty”,
keynote speaker at Mexico City´s celebration of International
Women´s Day 2009, 10,000 attended at the Auditorio Nacional.
AMARA has created numerous synergies and collaborations both
in the private and governmental sectors, spearheading new paradigm
of collaboration achieving important milestones, for example:
Mexican Technical Secondary School Board, challenged more
than 30,000 Mexican youths to examine and question existing
beauty stereotypes and how such stereotypes affect their self-perception
and overall level of self esteem.
Unprecedented collaboration between the Mexican Military and
AMARA, 30,000 military personnel and their families will attend
conferences and workshops designed to help strengthen their
self esteem and combat the pressing issue of family violence.
Christina is sought after as a motivational speaker or workshop
leader on self esteem issues and empowerment for men, women and
children.
Endorsements received by:
Anne Todd-Lambie, Past President BPWNZ and Family Lawyer
Moderator “Say No to Violence” workshop, BPW International
Congress, Mexico, October 2008
“Christina Berton is a Jungian Psychotherapist who spoke
at the BPW Congress Domestic Vio-lence Workshop in Mexico on Self-esteem.
After the Workshop, time had run out those present continued to
sit engrossed in Christina’s presentation.”
Penny Stevens, Past President BPW Auckland
“Christina Berton was an amazing speaker, who has this
special X factor……”
Introduction/Biography
of Christina Burton