How did we celebrate International Women’s Day 2016?
Celebrated on March 8th every year, International Women’s Day focuses on the general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women for their economic, political and social achievements. Some people celebrate the day by wearing purple ribbons.
To celebrate International Women’s Day, DRI (Vandu’s sister company) co-hosted the ‘celebrating being a woman’ event at the William and Patricia Venton Centre in Eastbourne. Everyone was welcome with only one requirement, to bring a childhood photo and share your world with those also attending.
Speakers from Lithuania, UK and Eritrea formed the basis for discussion and conversation regarding each individual’s upbringing. This exercise highlighted differences and also similarities to do with culture, background and language. Once the discussion was over the resounding conclusion was unanimous, being a woman from anywhere in the world should not be seen as a mystery but to be embraced, as we can all learn from each other.
An example of this was shown when three women of completely different ages, background and beliefs had all been brought together because their husbands had dementia. It was clear that the strong support network that they had built from their unfortunate circumstance was crucial to ensuring they all had better quality of lives. Once again proving that language and culture should not be seen as a barrier.
The day was a success with a wide range of women coming together in one place to discuss and compare past and present memories and thoughts on changes to women’s roles, jobs and lives throughout different periods of time.
The celebration depicts why and how it is so crucial to not base or judge women by race, colour or ethnicity. 
Vandu Language Services is based in Lewes, Sussex and has been helping organisations overcome the language barrier since 1999. We provide interpreting, translation, bilingual advocacy and cross cultural training for when you need to communicate clearly across cultures.
