Year 5 pupils from Horton Grange Primary School joined the Lord Mayor of Bradford and our Editor, Fatima Patel on Wednesday for a flag raising ceremony outside City Hall to mark International Women’s Day.
International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global cause occurring every year on the 8th of March, which celebrates women and promotes equality with men. In the UK, this year’s theme is ‘Embrace Equity.’
The event was organised by Noreen Khan, Director of Neesie; a platform for single mothers and women with children which enables them to grow independently and better their lives.
Noreen’s team provided the flag which is believed to be the very first civic flag in the UK, perhaps even globally, that specifically commemorates IWD. Noreen’s team at Neesie are currently in their seventh year of trading and this is their sixth year of raising the flag in the Bradford community. Together Fatima and the Lord Mayor raised the flag to rapturous applause from passers-by.
Fatima along with Marium Haque, the new Strategic Director of Childrens Services for Bradford were then invited to join the school children at a reception, to talk about their journey and a Q&A at City Hall.
Marium spoke to the children about one of her favourite inspirational women, Rosa Parks. “She did something very small, and it made a massive thing happen” she told the children. “Remember, you can do one really powerful thing and make a difference.”
Fatima, who used to attend Horton Grange back when it was a middle school and still lives in the same area as many of the pupils, made a speech for the children and said “whatever your dreams are, don’t just think of them as dreams. They can become a reality. Only you can achieve that. By hard work, by believing in yourself, and just going for it.”
Marium added “It’s your city, you guys are the future of Bradford, it is your city of culture.”
The children have been looking at famous inspirational local women as part of their schoolwork and are currently in the process of making a giant tapestry, with each square dedicated to a local woman that they admire. It will feature the Bronte sisters, MP Naz Shah and boxer Nicola Adams, among others.
Teacher Rae Ramsden said “Bradford has a massive history in textiles, and who traditionally worked in those factories? Women. So that is why we have chosen to make a fabric tapestry.” The finished tapestry will be on display at the school with a view that it might eventually be used again during Bradford’s City of Culture 2025 celebrations in some way.
Asian Standard wishes all a Happy International Women’s Day.
