Rotary District 9212 marks The Day of Women and Girls of African Descent
By Judy Kibigo
2024 marked the year that the United Nations declared July 25 as ``The Day of Women and Girls of African Descent.''
What better way should we celebrate this milestone for the first time as Rotarians in District 9212 if not in the most groovy and vibrant way possible?
What better way should we celebrate this milestone for the first time as Rotarians in District 9212 if not in the most groovy and vibrant way possible?
As a District rooted in the Heart of Africa, women come adorned in every skin shade, from black, brown to white, with textured, curly and straight hair, and everything else that defines our beautiful diversity. Women are bound with one thing only – LOVE! As the world turns its eyes to us, we show them exactly who we are - bold, visible and united in Love.
Clothed in our textured fabrics, which are in colours of the world, draped in beadwork and bangles that speak of our history and heritage, we women dance because, we face life dancing.
When presented with challenges, women and girls of African descent choose to dance, even in the middle of difficulties. In our dances, we slip off our shoes and step on our soil. Do not be alarmed, no, no. It is how we connect with our world, for we come wrapped not only in gold, but in the enduring colour of our soil, the mother of our roots.
When presented with challenges, women and girls of African descent choose to dance, even in the middle of difficulties. In our dances, we slip off our shoes and step on our soil. Do not be alarmed, no, no. It is how we connect with our world, for we come wrapped not only in gold, but in the enduring colour of our soil, the mother of our roots.
We will confidently tell you which part of Africa we come from- Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya and South Sudan, and Rotary District 9212 is the vehicle we are on now. You simply cannot afford to look away.
As women and Rotarians in District 9212, we choose to radiate love and Serve Above Self. This comes from our bosoms, for as women, we know how to embrace and nurture. Serving and loving also comes from our hearts, and we believe that it is from this point of love that we have united for a good cause - to change the world through service.
For long, we were hidden and made to stay silent. In our silences, we developed our resilience and strength, grew our roots - unshakable roots - that today form a formidable force. Where discrimination has been normalised, we continue our journey from a place of strength; we rise with love and solidarity.
Our clarion call is let's overcome all that is not for us in Love. We endeavour to celebrate our achievements, embrace our struggles and work on them, and boldly rewrite our stories, for we believe the day of the African woman is a day to mark our milestones, a point of reflection, power, and pride for every African Woman and girl wherever they are.
As we mark the inaugural celebration of the Day of the Women and Girls of African Descent, Rotary District 9212 echoes the same words we have echoed for over 100 years. Our unity, our love, our strength, these qualities have seen us overcome the inequalities, discrimination, hard socio-economic statuses which have always led to marginalisation and use this Day to show love and service to the world.
In a global observance of this day, as Women in Rotary District 9212, we raise our voices in love and laughter, cognisant that the journey ahead may be rocky, patchy, and even dry, but just like we have come very far, we are going even farther because we are a formidable force together.