By Crispina Cummings
Graceland Sierra Leone on Saturday 8 March celebrated International Women’s Day with women and children at the Tombo community centre, a fishing community in the rural Western Area of Freetown.
The nongovernmental organisation, which deals with women’s issues of diverse proportions, said drama and procession by primary school pupils from Newton, Grafton, Tombo and Tokeh also formed part of the celebration.
One of the presentations by the children was on how to take care of our environment.
National programme coordinator of Graceland Sierra Leone, Bondu Manyeh, said the day was set aside by the United Nations “as a day to critically look at the general advancement of women and the protection against violence, discrimination, intimidation and neglect”.
She said it was important because on that day “women stand tall to discuss critical burning issues that affect their development from a small town like Tombo to great cities like New York and London”.
She said the same message all over the world was “let us inspire change for women and girls for prosperity”, adding that the gathering was to re-echo that message to all men the world over.
Manyeh said women must be protected and promoted and that all communities must give equal opportunities for women to achieve greatness, respect and dignity.
“Women deserve the best treatment and encouragement. Above all, the woman makes the home happier and women make communities enjoyable and lively. The woman should take her actual place on earth”, she urged, ending with a call to everyone to stop violence against women and eliminate all forms of discrimination for a better Sierra Leone.
A representative of the market women, Mariam Kargbo, said women were very important in society and deserved respect. She encouraged her colleagues to be educated.
(C) Politico 11/03/14
