by Connie Short, Communications Intern
Let’s all help create a #BalanceforBetter. This week marks the 108th anniversary of International Women’s Day, a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, while also marking a call to action for accelerating gender balance among all.
Representing Emmanuel College at the UN Women Australia’s Brisbane International Women’s Day Breakfast on Wednesday 6 March was Emmanuel College Students’ Club Community Service Coordinator Lateisha Stam and myself, Emmanuel’s Communications Intern and Students’ Club Photographer. Held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, the breakfast’s theme was Balance for Better. A slogan recognising the important role we all play — as women, men, non-binary and gender diverse people — to create a world where women and girls everywhere have equal rights and opportunity. Everyone’s participation is required to take a stand in unison for gender equality and fairness.
The UN Women’s key speaker was Mele Maualaivao, the UN Women’s Country Program Coordinator in Samoa. Mele is closely involved in supporting projects focused on women’s political participation and leadership in Samoa, as well as in the Cook Islands, Tokelau and Niue. Her attendance and speech was of particular relevance to Lateisha and her initiative, as Community Service Coordinator, of a student-led service tour of Samoa in the June/July semester break this year.
In her presentation, Mele likened the Samoan tradition of outrigger paddling to the societal effort needed to achieve gender equality, working together to balance for better. In an outrigger canoe, all individuals have different roles; there’s no delegated gender, but a goal to accomplish together in unison. You share your talents and knowledge in order to achieve success. She believes the same mindset will work to achieve gender balance.
This metaphor holds relevance for the student team paying their own way to volunteer for the Samoa service tour. The team will be joining forces with Projects Abroad to benefit from their talents and knowledge in renovating a local school, tree planting, giving a waste management and recycling presentation, and promoting equal rights and opportunities for those less fortunate. The 19 Emmanuel College students participating in the Samoa service tour will be sharing their knowledge and skills to create balance for better for our Pacific neighbours.
