Celebration at Kalidevi had the largest number of people (91) gathered to cheer for gender equality. Almost all of the participants were from Kalidevi Women’s Group; only two participants were male: village’s chairperson and an agricultural trainer. This group is one of the strongest women’s group we have supervised. They have shown strong sense of unity among themselves and drive to work for women empowerment. They attended the program despite of their need to be at the farm sowing potatoes.
After the women’s day march, they reflected on each slogan written on boards and women icons presented by NJSI staff. We had conducted an activity session in all the places whose motive was to make them realize importance of communication, equality, leadership and unity. Second part of the session involved asking them what they would do if they were the ruler of the world; most said that they wanted to make the world a just place. The program adjourned with folk songs and dances, and happy faces returning home with determination to step up for equality.
“A daughter is also your child, remember mom and dad,
Let’s have the courage to fight for her, there’ll be no loss
Writers, poets, philosopher, professors, doctors, daughters have become,
Let’s have the courage to fight for her, there’ll be no loss
Parijat planted seeds of literature, Raksha Rana flew airplanes,
Let’s have the courage to fight for her, there’ll be no loss
They have shown their spirit, don’t fool them, they won’t be fooled
They have been examples for nation,
Let’s have the courage to fight for her, there’ll be no loss
Goddesses Sita and Bhrikuti were also daughters like us,
President and ministers are daughters
Chief justice and public figures are daughters, you know them
Respect her, they are not weak, there will be no loss.”
A song composed by a teacher of Ramechhap