Few people in salone knows about int’l women’s day
March 10, 2017 By Regina Pratt
International Women’s Day (8 March) is a day set aside by the United Nation to celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women, present, past and future, and this day has been observed since the early 90’s.
This day is celebrated in Sierra Leone and other countries in the world with the theme for 2017 as “Sustaining the increase in inclusive participation of women to enchance chances of socio-economic gender parity by 2030”.
A survey done by Concord Times suggested that many women knew little or nothing about the said day which do not get much publicity, as most of them want their women folks to be empowered and all forms of violence against women are stopped.
Gento machine operator, Joyce Moseray said she joined the company in 2013 after graduating from Njala university as a data processor. A job which she appreciated as at the that time she was in need of job to empower herself.
She stated that it was high time women moved from the backyard to the front and contributes to decision making in the society.
She said education should not be a barrier for women’s empowerment and that she was proud of her job.
Mrs. Moseray further explained that when she went to seek employment at Gento, the director was happy for her boldness and encourage her a lot. She said what surprised her was that one of the senior staff at the company didn’t want her to be an operator.
“Women should be proud of doing the work of a man. Before now women were not allowed to do the job that men do and in the past especially in our rural settings where they believe that it is a taboo to challenge decisions that should be taken by a man but women are now aware that they should come to the front”, she said.
The Operator further said that some people do not like seeing women operating machines these days on the notion that they would be there to born children, and take care of the home.
“Men should encourage the women so that they could continue giving their voices out. I am calling on the government to empower women. Our sisters in the street should be empowered so that they could live a decent life and stop going behind men. That is why most of them do suffer violent attacks from their male counterparts”, she said.
She urged those young girls roaming the streets to refrain from such and do something that would make them live independently.
The One Pole Sisters Keeper is an organization being run by women who are single parents and deals in fishing to earn their living and take care of their children.
The organization has been in existence for over 30 years and they do their businesses along the Lumley beach has been operating for over 60 years according to the chairlady, madam sally cole who said that her father was one of the fishermen who name is still, remembered that he was one of the pioneers that established that selling point which is in operation and has helped many women to empower themselves in taking care of their families.
She informed me that she was working in one of the hotels as a house keeper, but left to continue thei work that her parents were doing just to empower herself in taking care of her children, stating that despite my education I did not sit and wait for helpers.
She also said that their organisation had never attended any functions regarding the International Womens day but she had been advising young girls to learn something that could empower them.
Madam Cole said that from the proceed she gets while selling her fish, she used to take care of her children and that the other members also do the same to take care of their family and that they leave by going out to get more fish for their customers.
She said being a woman is not a curse, but to be empowered is a blessing that their male counterparts will also admire them, stating that women should not seat and wait for your husband, but do something that would inspire other women.
Madam Cole call on the government and the international community to help in assisting the suffering women in our country, adding that the way women are being disgraced is not good for the country and that the government recognized us as we were told that we should leave this site.
She further said that violence against woman is on the increase and we are appealing to the government to great care in protecting women, and those women who die while giving birth calling on the medical officers to protect the lives of women especially if that woman cannot afford the fees and also that government should look into the educational sector for the girl child.
She thank the organisers of the International Womens day that the voices of women be heard.