International Women's Day

The idea of celebrating the strength, compassion and intelligence of women – what a phenomenal idea. In the United States we have Mother’s Day, but not much else that makes us stop, take time and appreciate. It turns out there is an International Women’s Day. Many countries celebrate it, including Rwanda. It occurred a few days ago. There is no work and no school in Rwanda so the whole country and celebrate. Each sector, similar to our version of a county or town, has it’s own ceremonies. We attended one in the soccer stadium near our training center. There was traditional dancing, singing, and speeches. All the heads of the community were there. A couple women told stories about abusive husbands or people in their lives who made them feel inferior. They stressed equality and the importance of education, noting that the highest science score among secondary students was from a female.

Prior to the ceremony was one of the best experiences I’ve had here. We were waiting in the bleachers along with a few schools of children. They were all secondary school children at the time who had arrived early for the celebration. They were in their school uniforms although they didn’t have class that day. The town I am living in is packed with schools. There are many public but most are private, Catholic schools. All school children wear uniforms, even public. The youth were singing songs and chanting words that I couldn’t understand. It was later explained to me that they were songs from a training that all children in Rwanda must attend. For about a month each year, all the children in the country attend a training. They discuss equality and tolerance. They learn songs about inclusion and acceptance. Throughout the year they often repeat them, similar to how a high school student section would cheer at a football game. As they were singing, some were also dancing on the field – coordinated group dances. After we watched them, they eventually came to our section of bleachers and invited us to join them. We all flooded onto the field and mimicked their dance moves. It was the equivalent of a conga line plus the tunnel of people (when some people stand clapping overhead and the others run underneath) plus some traditional dance moves which have the relaxed flow of Caribbean music. It was exhilarating. Even though none of us shared a common language, we could dance together. We eventually returned to our seats, exhausted. I don’t know where they found the energy to keep dancing most of the day.

So in honor of International Women’s Day I’d like to thank all the amazing women in my life. I have been raised by courageous, strong women. I was then blessed to go to an all girl high school. I worked in a ridiculously supportive workplace, composed of many wonderful women. I volunteered at Ele’s Place, whose staff is almost entirely female. I am now in a group of independent, resilient Peace Corps female trainees. Thank you to all you superwomen. You teach compassion, respect and integrity through the everyday actions that seem redundant and unappreciated. Thank goodness for women!