Women@Work International Women’s Day

Women Loud and Clear! Conference & Celebration

Inverness March 6 2007

With funding from the Scottish Community Foundation’s Women Fund the WEA Women@Work (W@W) project organised a conference & celebration for International Women’s Day, in Invernesson March 6 2007.

We had a fantastic day. 100 women attended from across the Highlands, a lovely sunny March morning and the buzz was tangible from the very start. We had on display, a wonderful hand–made trade union banner, commissioned in 1997 by the STUC (Scottish Trades Union Congress) Women’s Committee - it made a great backdrop for our registration desk.

The opening speakers Lucia Matibenga from the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, and Jean Urquhart, a Highlandbusiness woman and campaigner, were passionate and moving and funny and inspirational, in their own different ways.  Their talks were followed by Eden Court Theatre performing Forum Theatre - 3 different scenarios from women’s lives, acted out, then directed through a skilled facilitator by the 'audience'.  It was both thought provoking and entertaining and much appreciated by all.

We had lunch together in the sunny restaurant of the hotel, overlooking the River Ness, fast flowing and full of energy. We had time to chat with the wonderful range of women present including women from all our W@W network areas, our project funders at the Scottish Executive, trainers and network members from many different groups, and the WEA staff and partner organisations. What a positive atmosphere we generated.

In the afternoon we attended the various workshops, facilitated by women offering expertise and insight into various topics of special relevance to contemporary women. These included Fair Trade, Diversity, Mediation, Activism, Wellbeing through Laughter and Bread and Roses.  This last one was led by a local voice coach and choir teacher who taught 15  participants to sing the anthem of International Women’s Day. It is a moving and uplifting song, commemorating the Lawrence textile workers’ strike in in 1912. The title was taken from the banners of the strikers, who demanded not just decent treatment at work, but the right to dignity and a better quality of life. 

We then came back together, briefly sharing the highlights of each workshop. Then our newly formed choir sang the day’s anthem - a fitting tribute to women and the W@W project’s theme of ‘Making our Voices Heard.  We then invited everyone to stand, and in their delegates packs we'd put the words  of the song…

We sang it together, in celebration of women everywhere, it was a wonderful ending to a memorable day.

Some quotes from the day's evaluations :
‘ A thoroughly enjoyable and interesting day with much food for thought’
‘Have been stimulated and entertained in equal measure, many thanks’
‘ Excellent day – moving – informative and very worthwhile’
‘Excellent interaction and networking opportunity in workshops – could have been longer – so much to discuss and reflect upon!’

Frances Powell
W@W Project Coordinator