Starting a social media NGO, or non-governmental organization, project for the David O. McKay Center, titled “Women of Laie,” Alex Athans, a senior from Laie studying peacebuilding and political science, said it was her sixth idea pitch for her NGO project. She said she kept changing her ideas, and finally, “Women of Laie” just stuck with her.
The mission of her “Women of Laie,” according to Athans, is to interview female students and faculty, but also women in the community, to show how they are connected.
“The differences separate us, but the similarities bring us together,” shared Athans. “I really want to interview people who would not normally be interviewed, and I want to talk to girls who don’t really feel like they fit in. That way I can prove that we are all more similar than we think.”
Athans said she feels a lot of people view the women of Laie as unapproachable or intimidating. She said she wants to disprove that misconception.
“I want the women in the community to stop being seen as scary or intimidating, but as strong women.”
She added, “I think there is so much power in a woman's voice because women are the life force of everything around us. They create the gentle and forgiving atmosphere. I love how these women I interview share their vulnerable stories. It really brings power to others.”
Needed in a small community
Malayah Thompson, a senior from California studying history, was also involved with “Women of Laie.” Thompson said she feels there is some global and wholesome female empowerment going on in the world today, but seems to be less in small communities like Laie.
Thompson said, “Alex created a medium for this grassroots work, which really hasn’t been done before. For me, and I’m sure other women would agree, social media can be extremely toxic and detrimental to one’s self-esteem because of the innate idea that we have to compare ourselves constantly and point out the differences.
“With the ‘Women of Laie,’ Alex has created a space where women can compare and highlight their shared experiences and find strength in their differences rather than be torn down by them. Personally, there have been amazing women who truly define empowerment that I have met in Laie.”
Thompson said she was instantly interested in Athan’s organization when she heard about it. “This organization emphasizes the importance of working in the community. It has also enabled me to delve into and explore my own experiences as a woman, a woman of color and as a daughter of God.”
Adriannah Metta, a senior studying anthropology from Papua New Guinea, like Thompson, was interviewed for Athans’ project.
Metta shared, “I really appreciated being able to have an open dialogue with the community. I think that is essential in bridging the gap between the students here and the Laie community.”
Natural Beauty
Along with having an interview, Athans said she also holds a photo shoot with the women. She shared she edits all the photos in black and white, so there is less room for comparison between the women.
“When I am taking photos, I ask the women if they can be as natural as possible. I want to show natural beauty and that nobody is truly flawless. I want to show women that not everyone is perfect and so they do not need to be afraid of who they are.”
Athans added she thinks women tend to compare themselves to each other. “Even though we don’t voice it all the time, we are all proneto comparison and we are all insecure about our looks. I want this project to show women and students and whoever that we are all more alike than we are different.”
Téalani Wallwork, a freshman from Washington studying elementary education, participated in the “Women of Laie” project. She said she can tell Athans wants to change not only the community but also someday the world.
“’Women of Laie’ is an amazing program for women in this community to feel loved and safe in a world where most women don’t.”
Wallwork said she has even found a way to incorporate her future career with the NGO project. She said, “As an elementary major, I want to be able to change kids and to make them feel important and teach them that this world will bring them down. We just have to find the people who help pick us up.”
She added the project helps find people who help encourage and pick women up. “I’m so happy I’m able to help along the way with Alex and her journey, and also to help women all around feel strong and important.”
Hina Autele’s Story
One of the women Athans interviewed in the Laie community was Hina Autele. Autele and her family are from Laie. When she was younger, her mom got a job in the Caribbean and then they moved back to Laie.
In the Caribbean, Autele said she felt out of place. “We were the only Polynesians in the Caribbean for the longest time. Also, [we were] the only Mormons in our school. I felt a detachment from my cultural identity. I felt like I didn’t really know who I was. I didn’t look like anybody in my school.”
She added how she was grateful to move back to Laie. “I wish I would’ve been more immersed in my culture earlier. As soon as I returned I immersed myself into my culture.
“My advice to those struggling with feeling like they don’t fit in would be, own that you’re different. Make a place for yourself. You don’t have to completely fit in to find your place somewhere. Learn more about who you are culturally. We all have a place here to grow.”
Changing Perceptions
“Sometimes I feel like there is a huge gap between peacebuilding majors and the rest of the majors on campus,” shared Athans.
“One of my main goals is to get professors and individuals from other majors to show that this major is so much more than what people think. I also want to give these amazing women the credit they deserve.”
Athans added how women can even bring power to men. She said men are raised by strong women and women sharing similarities gives them each their own voice.
Growing the project
When most students start their NGO projects, they are not always up and running after the students graduate or leave the island, said Athans. Because of this, she said this is why she decided to do a social media page.
After Athans is done with her project, she shared it won’t have a huge effect when it stops because it is more of an online platform showing women’s stories rather than a service project.
Eventually, Athans said she wants to turn “Women of Laie” into a much bigger project and maybe have it reach outside of the local community into other communities. Athans added she loves to travel and wants to connect women from all over the world.
Athans said she does not graduate for a year, and when she is doing her final project, she wants to create a black and white museum and display 10 of the photos and stories in this museum.
Athans shared how she plans to start the museum during the Winter Semester of 2020.
“Women of Laie” is an ongoing project and will continue for at least the next year until Athans graduates, she said. Updates and stories can be found on the Instagram page, @womenoflaie.
Writer: Mackenzie Beaver