I see there are two notable specially designated days this week – World Book Day, and International Women’s Day – both marking concepts very dear to my heart.
Today, on World Book Day, relevant participating organizations aim to give every child and young person a book of their own.
I contributed by posting a bag of children’s books I’d bought a while ago for gifts, to a whanau group hoping to mark the day in that way. Very nice books they were – they’ll be lucky children who get them. And I like to think they, their children, the country, will benefit in the future if the recipients learn to love and appreciate reading. Win-win-win!
Everyone can help today, or any day, by reading a story to a child.
Tomorrow, March 8, it’s International Women’s Day.
This year’s theme for the day is #BalanceforBetter – building a gender-balanced world. I’ve been working for that aim all my life. Over the decades I’ve seen improvements, so I’ll spend the day reflecting on and celebrating that.
This is a principle that can’t be left to one day in a year. For the next 356 I’ll be doing my bit, however I can, to make sure I can celebrate it even more confidently next year.
In 1893 one of my women ancestors signed the Women’s Suffrage petition that made New Zealand the first country to grant women the vote, and bring in universal suffrage. It’s a legacy I, my sisters, our children and grandchildren are very proud of, and we’re not letting her down.
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