8 March 2012, Barrow, Carlisle, Kendal, Penrith
Women’s groups from the Furness area, Kendal and South Lakes, Penrith and Carlisle will celebrate International Women’s Day together on Thursday 8 March 2012 under the banner of the newly expanding Cumbria Multi Cultural Women’s Network.
These four distinct groups will each host a festive event in their area, honouring the power of women all over the world – especially as they come together and lift their voices.The individual gatherings will all begin at 10am and at 11.45am each will log on with their webcams and link up with one another across the county for a 15 minute joint video celebration.
Donika Begaj, founder and leader of the Cumbria MultiCultural Women’s Network and leader of the Furness group for the past six years, could not be more excited about the joint working.
"The planning of this event has been a wonderful experience already!We have had the support of so many agencies – the County Council’s Multi Cultural Service, the Furness Multicultural Community Forum, AWAZ Cumbria, Cumbria CVS, Barnardo’s, Oxfam and the Eden Rural Foyer have all been incredibly generous with their time, energy and resources.Of course we know how many beautiful and diverse women live in our county, but these very public events will give us a chance to showcase our strengths to our neighbours in the wider community.It is also the perfecttime to launch our new Cumbria MultiCultural Women’s Network website and really drive home our message of solidarity for women from all over the world who live and work in Cumbria.”
Though the Barrow event is by invitation only, the other three events will be open to the public – all women welcome:
- In Barrow’s Town Hall from 10am – 12noon there will be an inspirational speaker who has developed the campaign against Female Genital Mutilation, followed by an ‘I am, I can’ workshop, as well as participation in the Oxfam’s International Women’s Day campaign to fundraise for women worldwide anda luncheon following.
- In Kendal’s Stricklandgate House from 10 – 12noon there will be international foods, a poetry workshop, film screenings of "Migrant Stories” by Cumbrian migrant women, head and hand massage and inspired crafts.
- In Penrith at the Eden Rural Foyer from 10 – 12noon there will be basic IT tuition for beginners, jewellery making, massage, advisory hairdresser and beautician, a light buffet and more
- Carlisle’s event will be from 10 – 2pm at St John the Evangelist on London Road and will offer song and instrumental sessions, international dance tasters and group story telling – participants are asked to bring some food to share from their country of origin – wherever that may be!
The Cumbria Multi Cultural Women’s Network brings together women of diverse cultures now living in Cumbria, for the purpose of acknowledging and celebrating individual heritage and traditions, sharing unique and collective experience, and nurturing skills and confidence; thus enhancing abilities to integrate with the local community and pursue new opportunities.
To learn more about CMWN and opportunities for involvement, please contact Donika Begaj: donika.begaj@cumbria.gov.uk
Contact:
Furness: Jo Ann Saltiga: info@jsaltiga.co.uk
Kendal: Andrea Aldridge: andrea@equalitycumbria.org
Penrith: Emilia Zbikowska: emiliaz@impacthousing.org.uk
Carlisle: Karen Dexter: karen.dexter@barnardos.org.uk
Please find posters for each event to print, display & distribute: International Womens Day Event Poster - Barrow In Furness - 8 March - 10am to early pm International Womens Day Event Poster - Carlisle - 8 March - 10am to 2pm International Womens Day Event Poster - Kendal - 8 March - 10am to early pm International Womens Day Event Poster - Penrith - 8 March - 10am to 12pm