International Women’s Day!

8 Mar 2023

It’s the 8th March which means one thing – it is International Women’s Day!

It started with workers at the start of the 20^th century, to try and give female workers better pay and conditions, but over the years has turned into a celebration of the achievements of women around the world. It is also a time to focus on equality for women and girls, and what needs to be done to elevate them in the future.

This morning, I want to focus on the recent news of girls in Afghanistan being denied education. Since March 2022, on the first day on the new school year, girls have been banned from going to school. This has had a huge impact on their life; not learning will stop them achieving their dreams, finding work, they miss friends and activities, and trap them in the home and marriage from a young age.

You can learn about this topic here: https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/09/1127121

This has recently spread to women in higher education too, where women have been banned from returning to universities across the country.

Also on the news in recent days has been the suspected gas attacks on hundreds of school girls in Iran which has barely made the news. Girls being targeted for being female, and wanting an education.

You can find more here – https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-schoolgirl-poisonings-arrests-possible-chemical-biological-attack/

Malala Yousafzai famously campaigns for girls’ education around the world. She was shot in the head by the Taliban when she was 15 years old. She later won the Nobel Prize for peace and is an inspiration to women and girls.

Take some time today to remember girls and women around the word; to not turn away from the struggles of many, to value their achievements, and celebrate their successes.

Let’s also reflect on the importance of education. As Malala says “One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.”

Happy IWD!

Mrs K Fallon