By Anesta Henry
International Women’s Day on Wednesday was extra special for some students of the Deighton Griffith Secondary School.
That institution’s fourth year Young Leaders of Tomorrow group in collaboration with the Key Club hosted a special session to observe the day and show the young charges that they are enough.
The female students were presented with cupcakes and special gift bags, while female teachers and ancillary staff were treated to bottles of non-alcoholic wines and other gifts.
However, the male students were not left out of the action as they too enjoyed cupcakes and ice cream with their female counterparts during the lunchtime session which also included singing and poetry presentations.
Fourth Year Head Marcia Ashby told Barbados TODAY that though teachers and students would only exchange International Women’s Day pleasantries in the past, “nothing tangible” was being done to make the day even more memorable.
She said this is why she ran with the idea to observe the day this year with a special activity.
The teacher said there is also a need for female students to be shown that they are valued and to be inspired to become the best women that they can be.
“I also feel that the day is taken lightly because a lot of people have not equipped themselves with the knowledge about the development of women through the years and the obstacles that they had to overcome even to have education in the western world.
“Today also is a chance to stand in solidarity with those little girls all across the world who can’t at this time, access education and are not allowed to go to school. This is why we jumped at the chance to host this activity in collaboration with the Key Club which chose the development of women as their project,” Ashby said.
Faculty Advisor for the Key Club, teacher Zondeen Alleyne, said she was pleased with the student’s reception to the lunchtime activity.
Alleyne said it was a delight to witness the camaraderie as students gathered to show their appreciation for each other and the women in their lives.
Fourth form student Blossom Browne, a member of the Key Club who played a pivotal role in coordinating the event, kept busy sharing cupcakes and the gift packages.
Fifteen-year-old Browne said her objective was to help make the females at Deighton Griffith feel worthy, empowered, and special.
“I feel that what we are doing here today is good because some young females may be going through certain situations and today is a day for them to be enlightened about some stuff that they may not have known about themselves. This allows them to feel more confident in themselves with all of the positive vibes that are going around today.
“I wrote a prayer for women which was touching to many. All the teachers were saying how wonderful the prayer was and that encouraged me to continue being the inspiring individual that I am and the empowered woman that I will become,” Browne said. [email protected]
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