International Women Day Celebration 2010

8^th March, 2010

A Global Celebration

At

Kot Lakhpat (Lahore)

ORGANISTATION SYNOPSIS

Society for Community Restoration is a non-governmental and not for profit Organization, the Organization believes that development cannot be viewed separately from basic human right defined in the charter of united nation there is an intertwined relationship between both which regardless of the nature of the program makes the former a highly social political and economic agenda in this sense the development struggle is backed by thought provoking focused and consistent initiative on issues concerning lives critical analysis of the existing development theorized in view of the program that involves people and suit the objective realities and the continues process of reflection and consolidation of the efforts from micro to macro level

Introduction

International Women's Day (IWD) is marked on the 8th of March every year. It is a major day of global celebration of women. In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and social achievements.

Back ground

The first IWD was observed on 19 March 1911 in Germany following a declaration by the Socialist Party of America. Among other relevant historic events, it came to commemorate the 1911 fire. The idea of having an international women's day was first put forward at the turn of the 20th century amid rapid world industrialization and economic expansion that led to protests over working conditions

In 1910 the first international women's conference was held in Copenhagen (in the labour-movement building located at Jagtvej 69, which until recently housed Ungdomshuset) by the Second International and an 'International Women's Day' was established, which was submitted by the important German Socialist Clara Zetkin, although no date was specified. The following year, 1911, IWD was marked by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, on March 19. However, soon thereafter, on March 25, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City killed over 140 garment workers. A lack of safety measures was blamed for the high death toll. Furthermore, on the eve of World War I, women across Europe held peace rallies on 8 March 1913. In the West, International Women's Day was commemorated during the 1910s and 1920s, but dwindled. It was revived by the rise of feminism in the 1960s.

Demonstrations marking International Women's Day in Russia proved to be the first stage of the Russian Revolution of 1917.

Following the October Revolution, the Bolshevik Alexandra Kollontai persuaded Lenin to make it an official holiday in the Soviet Union, and it was established, but was a working day until 1965. On May 8, 1965 by the decree of the USSR Presidium of the Supreme Soviet International Women's Day was declared as a non working day in the USSR "in commemoration of the outstanding merits of Soviet women in communistic construction, in the defense of their Fatherland during the Great Patriotic War, in their heroism and selflessness at the front and in the rear, and also marking the great contribution of women to strengthening friendship between peoples, and the struggle for peace. But still, women's day must be celebrated as are other holidays

2010 International Women's Day Theme

On occasion of 2010 International Women's Day, Society for Community Restoration is drawing attention to the hardship displaced women endure. The displacement of populations is one of the gravest consequences of today's armed conflicts. It affects women in a host of ways.

Theme for 2010 is "Pakistani Women Taking Action to Make a Change!"

Venue

The IWD event was held at St. Thomas High School (Kot Lakhpat Lahore) as high numbers of participants were invited in that Global Celebration in a community where community is of mixed class, lower and middle. Some women are working at good positions in the different government and private sectors and some women are working as laborer in the houses to fulfill the basic some children are studying in the schools and some are going to work and doing child labor as they are supporting their families. Banners and streamers were displayed to give awareness of IWD and the Theme of the year.

For kids there was a drawing competition activity was organized.

Welcome and introduction

Mrs. Bushra Shehzad (stage secretary) started the program at 5:00pm with prayer and welcome to the participants and explained the segments of the program. All the kids were asked to do participation in the drawing competition regarding IWD.

Participants include the young and elderly women, children and men as well. 

Dr. Nadeem Pervaiz (Founder & President SCR) welcomed the participants and give briefing about the organization structure, history, objective and future plans.

He gave the brief introduction of IWD and what was the reason to celebrate this day. He asked the audience about their work field which includes, Teachers, Staff Nurses, House wives, cottage industry workers, laborers and students.

He appreciated the strengths, achievements and participation of women for the welfare of their families/communities and give education to their children. He also stimulates the women who are not sending their children to schools that they should take initiative and give better future to our new generation. He said that SCR has planned program to give skill trainings to the women and men who does not have any skill then they can get better earning for them and support their families. And the people who already have some skills but do not have perfection in that, they will also train for perfection and they can earn better.

He shared the welfare work of his beloved mother (Late) that how she worked for the community. She was not a well educated woman; she took initiatives for community welfare. She started stitching training centers and trained many young girls and women to support their families. There were not enough sources but she gave education to her children by working hard with his husband.     

Mrs. Sadia Nadeem (Vice president) gave speech on the importance of women in the development of society. She explained how women can do better for work for her family and community.

She shared about herself that she is working with Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital and how she is also managing her work with her husband being wife and being social worker. She said it is very important for husband and wife to work together and husbands should not consider themselves superior than her wives.

She also talked about violation against woman cases and how we can stop this violation

Mrs. Kamal (School Girls High School Principal) highlighted the importance of education for girls and adult literacy. She said that every mother should promise today to give better future to her daughter by any mean and she will give maximum concession to the girls registered in my school on the platform of SCR. Moreover she also encouraged the women who are already sending their children to schools and colleges. She said that she will give her time voluntarily to the woman who wants to get adult education. 

Mrs. Imran (Social Worker) gave speech on roll of women in a society. She said that without women society is incomplete in all aspects. God has created woman to complete the man. Woman plays roll a mother, a wife, a daughter. There is always support of a woman in the success of man.  Today woman is not behind the man in any field, she working as; Doctor, Engineer, Teacher, Pilot. There are so many examples of brave women who fought bravely in the battles. She said today we can not forget those great women who got great for the welfare of communities in the world. She said there should be mother Teresa in every country, every city and every community. Women can bring positive change. She said today we should promise that we will contribute for the welfare of our communities.   

Mrs. Irene Shelly (Community Councilor) talked about the girls' education. She said, it is told that, education is the backbone of any nation. Without education none can prosper in life. Nobody can live a happy and successful life. But most of the time girls can not continue their education for many reasons. Therefore they become dependent on men and they are to face many unexpected situations.

Educated girls can lead her life with a good planning. They get physical and mental satisfaction than uneducated girls. She knows how to enjoy life and keep a happy family. I think that educated girls are different from other girls. If girls become educated they will be conscious about their rights. Then they will be able to conduct their life in right way. An educated mother can maintain her family and teach her children properly & give proper guidance. She can be very conscious about her children’s health and nutrition. She is more conscious about her family than an uneducated girl. Therefore it is told that “Give me an educated mother, I will give you an educated nation”. So girls’ educations are not necessary only for herself or for her family, but it is also necessary for the whole nation. She can go ahead with men. She can remove superstitious of her family members by her wisdom and knowledge. 

She can provide better care for her family.  She can do job and can help her family financially. Day by day the living cost is increasing. So it is becoming tough to maintain a family on one’s income. An educated girl can do job and can help    her family financially, better than an uneducated girl.

So we can say that if we can get an educated mother in every family, we will be able to give an educated and healthy future for the new generation.

Discussion

After speeches there was discussion session in which community women shared there success stories.  Mrs. Saeed Akhtar (Community Woman) shared her personal story that how she look after their three children when her husband died. She was very young when her husband died and shared the difficulties he faced being a widow but even then he sacrificed for her children and give them good education and them manners and good ethics of life.

Walk

After the seminar there was held a walk by all the participants women and displayed handouts messaging "No violation against women rights", "Better living standard of women"

 

Drawing Competition & Prize Distribution

The President distributed the prizes among the children for drawing on IWD and encourages them for their passion and love.

Refreshment and Celebration

After the Seminar refreshment provided by local donors/partners (Shezan Bakers & Inter Solar Technics (Pvt.) ltd.) was offered to all participants as token of love from SCR to the community. All the women were very happy to celebrate their grand day 

Conclusion/Out comes

The conclusion derived from the Activity/workshop is that women want to take initiatives for the betterment of their community and better future for their families and to have their rights. The Vice President stimulate them to start young women fellow ship program and all the participated raised their hands to second her suggestion. All the women who were not sending their children to schools promised to send them school and will do their best to give them better future.

Community women are now well aware about their rights & duties. And they appreciated the initiative of SCR and request to give more programs for community in which they can learn more and show their interest to take part in the social welfare work with SCR.

Skilled women are doing volunteer work with SCR and giving training to new groups in their respective communities