Chocolate, Zumba and Community: International Women’s Day

Hundreds of bars of chocolate were given out and women in every corner of our territory were celebrated for International Women’s Day (IWD) on 8 March.

Chocolate was the theme of the day, thanks to Women’s Ministries who created chocolate wraps, thank you cards and other resources, with many corps and centres adding their own flair.

Major Gill Waugh planned to give five chocolate gifts to each woman in her centre, for them to pay them forward to women in the community.

This community spirit was reflected in many of the activities. In Royal Oak, women taking part in the Positive Lifestyle Programme were invited to a beautiful morning tea, and every woman who walked through the doors of its Community Ministries was honoured with a gift. While Lieutenant Ben Cola gave out chocolate to local teachers in Cambridge.

Commissioner Julie Campbell was in Tonga for celebrations, where there was a Women’s Rally. Women were given gifts and, of course, chocolate!

In Samoa, the women know how to have a good time and celebrated with Zumba! Major Julie Turner says that the spirit of celebration is also a positive way to talk about issues that affect women. ‘IWD gives us an opportunity to talk about gender equity issues and what life is like for women,’ she says.