International Women’s Day is held every year around the world on March 8th. In Uganda, where women’s rights and issues are a very real and hard struggle it is especially important that we do something special to mark the day. Unlike Canada, Uganda has marked IWD as a national holiday, so last week we had a day off but being so close to election time,the District where i work decided to hold the celebration the following week, yesterday March 15. The event was organized by my supervisor for the youth project, Jolly Acen, Senior Community Development Officer for Lira and it was held in Ogur Sub-county, which happens to be one of the two sub counties where my project will also be running. For me this was an opportunity to observe how they celebrate here in Uganda and begin to get out to see the situation on the ground where i will be working.
The event started with a gloomy forecast of rain with heavy clouds drizzling in the early morning. It was actually the first day i was rained on while walking to work. But the clouds were a welcome relief from the very hot days we have had recently.
Before events got started the PA system was setup, the scouts and guides setup the chairs and the women police arrived to march.
The event began with a march of all the participant groups (women's groups, NGOs, women of power (military, police and prison guards), and children from local schools. They were lead in by the police brass band and all carried banners promoting the theme this year of “Act Now: Promote Maternal Health”. .
The guests included local politicians and a special guest of honor. Speeches were separated by various entertainment acts such as dancing, poems, drama and song. Below the elected women's representative for the area addresses the crowd, a woman performs a poem and we stand for the national anthem.
For me a highlight of the even were the children and their messages of hope, care and their pure joy in being part of the celebration. See here some videos of their performances…this little guy was amazing, as was his counterpart who lead this song. It will stay in your head….
And this guy, as you can hear from the women trilling, was a real crowd favorite. Not sure why all those women gave him money, but did he ever get the crowd engaged.
The event was very well attended and water and biscuits donated by NGOs were offered as refreshments. Guests were seated under large tents but the overflow spread out all around the Ogur Youth Center grounds.
NGOs were present to provide information, HIV/AIDS testing and counseling as well as organization and coordination efforts to make sure the event was a success.
It certainly was.
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