About Us

The Ruth Project is an organisation for the Wairarapa community that has been birthed out of a place of need. Due to our own experiences and other stories from within our community, we found that there is a gap in support for parents walking with perinatal mental distress in-between their professional appointments.

Perinatal is before, during and after birth. Mental distress for parents in this stage isn't always depression or anxiety but can be stress factors, for example, sleep deprivation, isolation, lack of education, trauma, that can all impact mental wellbeing.

Our job is to walk beside mothers and fathers equally, supporting their vision for themselves individually, together as a team and what they want their family to be. We have created simple, free services that meet parents where they are at and using the Te Whare Tapa Wha model of wellbeing, work with parents to take back authority in their complete being.

The dream we have is to see our parents building a strong village around them that includes their family, friends, neighbours, work and community organisations, clubs and groups. The hope is that over time we will contribute to more preventative care through support and education and see less parents stepping towards the cliffs edge.

We called our organisation "The Ruth Project" after the heart and attitude of a young woman called Ruth. The story goes, Naomi was Ruth's mother in-law, both of their husbands (along with Orpah's, Ruth's sister in-law) had all died in the land of Ruth and Orpah. Naomi decided she was to return to her land, with her people and hope that someone would take pity on her as an elderly widow as she had nothing. She told Orpah and Ruth to go back to their people, marry someone new and have a good live. Ruth refused, she said to Naomi "Where you go, I will go, your land will be my land, your people will be my people". The ending is that Ruth and Naomi go to Naomi's home land and all works out. It was the heart of Ruth, her willingness to walk beside Naomi as someone part of her village to support, love, encourage and provide, that inspired us. This is the heart of The Ruth Project, to walk with our people, to go where they go.

This is the beginning of something beautiful in our local community, adding to what has already been successfully established. The dream is to grow to a place where we have our own hub, running regular training nights, meet and greets with community people and groups, regular support groups, creative space, free counselling, mentoring, small gym access, mindfulness classes, health and fitness tips.......the possibilities are huge. But all great dreams start with a first step, momentum and commitment.

We look forward to working with you.

For more information on our developing services follow the link below: Our Services

Because we are a charity and we offer completely free services, we rely upon funding and donations. If you would like to give to The Ruth Project click on this link below for more information: Donate

Media articles: Wairarapa Times Age - Where you go Wairarapa Times Age - Support for our community Wairarapa Times Age - Whanau supported

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