March 08th, International Women’s Day, is an important day worldwide. It’s a day reserved for the woman to examine, and also to reassert herself by impacting change/progress in the society for the betterment of the girl child, women and humanity in general. In this vein, women in their groups (and at individual levels) do everything humanly possible to showcase their worth and savoir-faire. In Cameroon, it’s on this day that some women bring to the public the other side of them which could be captured under the good, the bad and the ugly.
The Guardian Post newspaper in its March 06th edition raises a salient point through a catchy caption about Women’s Day. It asked if women are “celebrating successes or perpetrating excesses.”The caption might sound a bit unpleasant to someone who isn’t aware of our reality. A cross section of women have digressed from the essence of the day when it comes to celebrating March 8th. However, we have decided to focus on those whom we should emulate, support and give a pat on the back to.
In line with this year’s theme, we have decided to spotlight a woman who has contributed a lot in that direction. The UN’s theme for this year’s celebration is: “Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow”. It is in recognition and celebration of women and girls who have taken the front line in the fight against climate change and the protection of the environment.
Limbi Tata, a multiple award winner in the field of Environmental Protection, is one of the Cameroonians who have decided to create an impact in the environment. The impact is just so glaring that one can’t help but notice. Two years back she and her team (Ecological Balance Cameroon) did outstanding environmental works in Buea and have continued to do so at other places. She stated that:
“In March 2020, we (Ecological Balance Cameroon) planted our second Miyawaki forest in Bulu-Buea, SW Cameroon. The aim of which was to recharge ground water and improve water tables. Today, the water volume has increased considerably and the forest has become a bird paradise … simple actions, big changes.”
The sustainability of the group’s actions is guaranteed for it’s a whole team and the knowledge about environmental care will continue to flow in as much as the team remains active. This is a plus for the girl child, and women could likely follow her footsteps.
The women we project on the media and social media as role models, influencers and brand ambassadors are not only a reflection of the image of the woman or girl we are sculpting but also a reflection of the problems we are either solving or creating. March 08th, if given its original meaning (as intended by the Beijing resolutions) is a day worth the attention and time vested on it.
The urban woman just as the rural woman has to be constantly reminded that their individual and collective contributions to the fight against climate change and related environmental issues isn’t insignificant. Sensitization about how our actions affect the earth and how this in turn affects our health, economy etc is important. Thus, the importance of this day and how the day should be celebrated should be handled with utmost importance.
The foundation or the base of equality lies on education; education at formal and informal levels for the woman and the girl child. Proper education in general and about the day in particular is what can help curb the unwanted excesses we’ve attached to the day. Sustenance requires a collective effort and all communities and societies should put hands on deck to ensure its attainment
W.N.
