“There is no limit to what we, as women can accomplish.” – Michelle Obama
In order to honour women globally, their rights and accomplishments, SAI International School & SAI International Residential School had teamed up to host this year’s International Women’s Day on March 8, 2021. This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights”. Schools from Oman, Uganda, Armenia and other Schools from India also joined the celebrations. Each school presented about Eminent Women from their respective countries The event had an opening piano solo by Ms Anna Adams from Shirakaty Lyceum, Armenia who played a traditional Armenian song.
Our Keynote Speaker was Ms. Ingrid Specht, Assistant Affairs Officer, U.S. Consulate Hyderabad, spoke about future career paths of woman and how to balance your work life, home life and motherhood. She took a close look at the biggest challenges that women and girls face as a whole globally and how women empowerment has been long overdue. In her own words, she stated “The biggest challenge faced by her was still even after being a top diplomat job she had seen diplomacy role was often identified with a man. Men and women were highly trained as diplomats and it shouldn’t surprise anyone to find a woman diplomat on the job”.
She stated she is a diplomat, woman and mother, wife, sister friend and also successfully shifted into the demands of the workplace. Ms. Specht stated the pandemic has brought a great shift in perspective of bosses and workers world over to look that there needs to be a work life balance both on the home front and career front. To be able to promote happy relationships at work place and home, while being good at delivering at official capacity jobs. There surely has been great deal of improvement of maintaining good work life balance post pandemic. In her own words it is best to switch off at times, to focus on one thing at a time. While we do so one must involve oneself with a hobby, and she shared happily that she loves to unwind with reading.
She stated that women should look up at the top of jobs, heads of colleges, universities, cities, local bodies. Globally as, Heads of States/countries, and seeing women at the top of international organizations and corporate houses. She also touched upon Ms. Kamala Harris coming to power and action as an Indian American woman of color and said that is only matter of time that soon America will have a woman President some day in future. At this point we need to uphold women’s rights and fully leverage the potential of women’s leadership. Mrs Specht added , the perspectives of women and girls in all of their diversity must be integrated in programmes at all spheres and at all stages of pandemic response and recovery.
The event witnessed to a game of Kahoot – ‘FIRST WOMAN TO’ so you can test your general knowledge about the first women to do amazing things in their fields (international). The Round Square School representatives and Going Global Club members hosted the event very successfully.
Dr Bijaya Kumar Sahoo, Founder SAI Education Group on the occasion of International Women’s Day stated that “Women’s voice was suppressed, their thoughts, opinions and emotions were seldom given any importance. Today women have empowered themselves and broke the glass ceilings to make sure that they contribute to the betterment of society. They not only hold great positions of power, yet they also nurture a family with love affection and dedication.” He wishes women to be at the top of achievements and continue to contribute to the cause of women empowerment.
Dr. Shilpi Sahoo, Vice Chairperson, SAI Education Group in her own words expressed “Women bring different experiences, perspectives and skills to the table that has proven to work better for all, and there is more than ever acceptance now. Women everywhere, motivated by their great desires for a better world, have made significant improvements in homes, offices and communities al over the world”
Women stand at the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis, as health care workers, caregivers, innovators, community organizers and as some of the most exemplary and effective national leaders in combating the pandemic. The crisis has highlighted both the centrality of their contributions and the disproportionate burdens that women carry as they participate in a global community. Efficiency and competency go beyond technical knowledge and, quite frankly, see no gender. Women now thrive in a career of manifold thought and involvement. Fortunately, the world is so intersectional now that anyone in any field can flourish as a leader, team-player, analyst, and problem solver.
