11 March 2019
Today around 80 Year 12 students from Fahan and The Hutchins School came together to celebrate and acknowledge the significance of International Women’s Day (IWD) and participated in a series of activities and discussions around the theme #BalanceforBetter.
The aim of the event was to strengthen and further educate an understanding of the importance of IWD. The event served as a powerful reminder that both men and women have a responsibility to promote gender equity and the empowerment of women. At the end of the event, the students enjoyed a shared picnic lunch in the Fahan garden.
Fahan School Principal, Tony Freeman, was impressed by the student-driven initiative, stating that the event strongly supported the notion that gender equity isn’t just a women’s issue to combat.
“Equity is something to which we all subscribe. I encourage everyone to support their female friends, family and community members, encourage women to embrace the opportunities where their talents can be used and support each other to be active participants in all aspects of life. Take the initiative to lead change.”
Fahan Head Girl, Isabella Farid, enjoyed the experience, saying, “We can all play a role in broadening opportunities for women; sometimes it can just be the small things that have the greatest impact. Today demonstrated that.”
Hutchins School Captain, Oliver Burrows-Cheng, said, “As Year 12 students we are able to have a greater impact on the community. Today was an opportunity for us, as Hutchins students, to show that we support equality and having equal opportunities for women.”
International Women’s Day is an important day for women to feel empowered, to celebrate the considerable achievements made in gender equity and to highlight the challenges still ahead. The theme #BalanceforBetter brings awareness to the need to build a gender-balance world. Staff at Fahan School today wore purple ribbons to demonstrate their support and students were encouraged to participate.
