Women's Day- celebrating the positives

Tomorrow is International Women's Day. At this time of year I'm thankful to the Kiwis for paving the way by giving women the right to vote back in 1893. (March 8 is a Public Holiday here so I'm also compelled to take the day off!)

International Women's Day was first celebrated a hundred years ago. In 1911 more than one million men and women attended rallies in Europe and the US to ask their governments to give women the right to vote, receive training and to end discrimination. Over the past century there have been great gains in recognising and upholding women's rights. Despite the reality that globally women's health, education and violence against them is worse than men, tomorrow is still a day to celebrate the positives.

What are we doing? I've prepared some information, questions and 'homework' activities for my Khmer staff to pass on to a Grade 2 class and two English classes this afternoon. They can explain why students don't have to go to school tomorrow and ask the kids some questions:

Do women have the right to work?
Do women have the right to vote?
Do women have the right to play sport?
Do women have the right to call the police if there is a problem at home?
Do women have the right to buy land?

For homework, the children will be encouraged to think of one household job they can do tomorrow that one of the women in their household usually does (or to help with a chore). If asked why they're doing it, their teachers will instruct the children to respond, "Today is Women's Rights Day and we want to help women!" I look forward to asking some kids later in the week if any of them remembered their holiday homework!