To our Women… With Love!

March 9, 2021

If you ever miss Valentine’s Day, you have one more chance! International Women’s Day! International Women’s Day is celebrated every year on the 8^th March around the world to recognize the notable economic, political and social achievements of women around the world.

Who remembers Margaret Thatcher? The world’s first female (and rather controversial) Prime Minister, who the Soviet Union named ‘The Iron Lady’. Despite her prophecy that there ‘’Will never be a female Prime Minister in my lifetime,’’ she went on to serve the United Kingdom for eleven years, transforming the country economically, socially and politically. Indeed, it was also the former British Prime Minister who summed up her responsibilities in a Parliament debate:

“ You run an opposition party. I run the country.” This is quite a succinct summary of how women have progressed in the latter years of the twentieth century and the beginning of this century. We have seen many more female world leaders around the world, notably Angela Merkel, a prominent figure both in European and German politics.

The role of women in politics does not stop only in Europe but in Russia where Valentina Matviyenko serves as a Senator for St. Petersburg

Indeed, moving further East and back a few years, Marie Curie, a Polish scientist whose achievements in the radiation sphere, whose important, pioneer development has been a notable landmark within the realm of science setting the pathway for research into treating cancer

On Friday 5^th March, our school paid tribute to women’s achievements around the world. We had an assembly in which our students paid tribute to women’s achievements through songs, small theatre performances and some presentations about women’s achievements around the world. We witnessed presentations on Kim Campbell, a former Canadian Prime Minister and Mother Teresa, who was renowned for trying to change people’s attitudes towards those suffering illnesses and living in poverty.

Our students found the day extremely enjoyable. Vanya fr om the 4^th class enjoyed participating in the assembly and stated that he cannot imagine a world wh ere women are not equal to men, while Sasha in the eighth class simply sees no difference between men and women performing the same job and having the same responsibilities.

Alas, we have not achieved everything: women, in some countries are still viewed as second-class citizens and some of our students gave presentations on women activists around the world such as Queen Raina of Jordan, who is pushing for social change in the Middle East.

We are all proud of our students engaging in the spirit of International Mindedness and their work and preparation for such a special and enjoyable day. Well Done to Everyone!