Our vision is to see women valued, respected and reaching their full potential. Our mission is to see women's lives changing, and to see attitudes about women changing.

In 1994 Project Esther was started as a community outreach of Spreydon Baptist Church. In 1995, it became a charitable trust. That is almost 30 years!

Project Esther began in response to the numbers of wāhine in the community who were parenting alone and facing significant hurdles. These hurdles included low incomes, social isolation, inadequate housing conditions, mental health concerns, gender discrimination… to name a few.

Project Esther was established to enhance the opportunities for women to find community support and relevant information. We started with a step aerobics class, a preschool music and movement class, a support group for women with a background of sexual abuse, and visiting in the women’s prison. 

Over the years Project Esther has evolved. However, many of the initial hurdles that women faced in the early years are still present. Through this, our vision has remained the same: “to see women valued, respected and reaching their full potential”.

We now have temporary/emergency accommodation for women who face difficulties and have little support.

We are fortunate to have strong connections to many other organisations working alongside women. Working with them means that we can refer on as needed and build a stronger support network together. With these connections, we have worked alongside women reintegrating into the community after prison, refugees and migrants, those exiting services with mental health challenges, women dealing with debt issues, women facing family violence, young mothers, and more.

We have a team of staff, including a social worker, as well as many wonderful volunteers. We continue to work in spaces where women face challenges and vulnerabilities.

As a faith-based organisation, Project Esther recognises that all people are born with inherent value. As an organisation, we seek to uphold and maintain the rights and dignity of one another.

We recognizes the importance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This founding document acknowledges Māori as tangata whenua. Project Esther commits to upholding this in our work and relationships.

We commit to celebrating and affirming the diversity of people and communities. We will do this regardless of factors that include, but are not limited to: age, ability, ethnicity, sexual orientation, sex, gender, race, religious beliefs, and/or socio-economic status.