Srinagar, Mar 07 (Only Kashmir): In a bid to felicitate the Women from different professions who rendered their contribution in Project Wand’e, the Kashmir Women’s Collective (KWC), a women group working for the empowerment of women folk in Kashmir Valley, Sunday held a women’s day event on the occasion of International Women’s day, a global celebration of achievements of women on social, economic, cultural, and political fronts.
Participants and Instructors of Project Wand’e were felicitated by awards and certificates for learning and teaching various small courses like calligraphy, painting, computers, scooter mechanics, self-defense, etc. Project Wand’e was launched by KWC in February for one month which successfully ended today with training at least 40 young girls in different hobbies which can be perused as a vocation.
Dr. Hussain, Principal, Music and Fine Arts, KU, Dr. Shazana Andrabi, Assistant Professor, IUST, Shafaqat Geelani, Founder Learning Edge Autistic Center, Tahira Aapa, Principal, Salvation home and Jamia Rozatul Mumin at, and Owais Wani, DSP Crime Branch were the speakers at the event who highlighted various aspects of women issues in our society, like livelihood, harassment at workplace, laws to safeguard women, disability and gender, and religious advocacy for women’s rights in marriage.
Mantasha Binti Rashid, Founder KWC speaking on the occasion said that Women’s Day 2021 is different from other years due to impact of pandemic and the financial, mental, and physical stress that it has caused to the global population, more so women.
To mitigate some stress, KWC announced an activity of ‘Climb and Conversation’: three Sunday Shankaracharya climb for women starting 730 am each Sunday from Sonwar. ‘It is open to everyone and women are requested to join this recreational activity, said Mantasha.
The main attraction on the occasion Rahat Mase (aunty), a fisherwoman who has been selling fish on Amira Kadal, all her life, was given a token of appreciation by KWC team who by this gesture wanted to celebrate womanhood across class and work.
Rifat Andrabi, a KWC member, said, ’empowerment doesn’t always come by sitting in big offices, having college degrees and fat pay cheques, the ability to stand in a market, negotiate for selling one’s product, and standing up if someone misbehaves which is also empowerment that Rahat Mase represents’.
Pertinently, the KWC team is run by voluntary efforts of many concerned men and women, nearly 70 out of them participated in the event today. Project Wande was deeply appreciated by the learners who were facilitated.
