Boise, ID – Annually on March 8, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and to celebrate their achievements in honor of International Women’s Day (IWD). A global array of local activities brings together women from all around the world and Boise, ID is joining the celebration.
This year, thousands of people will stand together to show that they are with the women of Afghanistan, Iraq, Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan and other war-torn countries. Boise-area residents can show their support by standing together on the 8th Street Pedestrian Bridge, adjacent to the Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial at 5:30pm. A moment of silence will be observed to stand in honor of women—to acknowledge the courage, the sacrifices, the strength and the power of women worldwide.
Immediately following the bridge event refreshments will be served in the Boise Public Library auditorium where non-profit organizations will be on hand to share information about local volunteer opportunities available to help make a difference in the lives of the women of the Treasure Valley and beyond.
“Join Women on the Bridge” will be the culminating event of a week-long celebration. The festivities begin on “First Thursday,” March 1, with the Downtown Boise Association’s (DBA) International Women’s Day event from 5p-8p. The DBA, in cooperation with a planning committee of six Boise non- profit organizations, all of which support women and girls through fund-raising, awareness and scholarship activities, has planned a fun and informational evening of wine tastings, a passport activity with door prizes, and an opportunity for locals to learn more about the non-profits in our area who provide critical services to women, children and families in Idaho and beyond. For more information on the IWD First Thursday event, visit www.facebook.com/BoiseIWD.
History of Join Women on the Bridge
Now in its third year, the “Join me on the Bridge” campaign started in 2010 when women from Congo and Rwanda joined together on the bridge connecting their two countries, showing that they could build the bridges of peace and hope for the future. This action sparked a massive global movement, and last year they were joined by thousands of people on hundreds of bridges worldwide. The international campaign is hosted by womenforwomen.org.
History of IWD
International Women’s Day (IWD) has been observed since in the early 1900’s. IWD is now an official holiday in Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China (for women only), Cuba, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Madagascar (for women only), Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal (for women only), Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zambia. The tradition sees men honoring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc. with flowers and small gifts. In some countries IWD has the equivalent status of Mother’s Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.
About Full Circle Exchange
Full Circle Exchange (FCE) is an Idaho non-profit and social enterprise dedicated to empowering women and whole communities to rise above poverty. FCE provides training, resources, and brings to the mass marketplace woman-artisan produced, socially conscious consumer goods. By focusing on poverty reduction through job creation, improved incomes, access to global markets, education and job training, FCE is reducing the number of women living in poverty–thereby improving the lives of women, children, families, and entire communities.
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