Humber student Navkirandeep Kaur says International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate the important women in her life and demonstrate the power to be bold and brave.
Kaur, in her first year in the Fashion Arts and Business program, visited Humber’s First Year Experience (FYE) program International Women’s Day celebration on March 8 in the E-Concourse on the North Campus, an event to celebrate and show appreciation to women.
“My maternal grandmother and my mother are the two top women who have contributed so much,” Kaur said. “They inspire me to reach great lengths every day.”
Her message is for women to be just who they are.
“Never let anyone tell you your worth or pull you down,” Kaur said. “Do what you believe and be fearless.”
Humber’s First Year Experience (FYE) program hosted the International Women’s Day celebration, an annual event to honour women’s rights and commemorate women’s achievements all around the world.
FYE Senior Peer Mentor and leading organizer of the event, Sama Jesow, said it’s important women and their achievements be celebrated through events like these.
“There’s so many things that women have contributed to the world, and struggles that women have been through,” she said. “It’s really important to appreciate, not just on International Women’s Day, but everyday.”
The event attracted crowds of students, and FYE provided refreshments, activities and free services for visitors to enjoy.
FYE Senior Peer Mentor Aashish Arora said that for attractions such as the Humber Spa booth, students were required to visit the registration table to pick up tickets to participate.
The other activities were open without registering.
FYE's sign for International Women's Day events. Photo credit: Asma Sahebzada
Activities included a button-making station arranged by Humber’s Consent Peer Education Program (CPEP), a table with thank you cards for students to write appreciative messages for women, and a safety informational booth managed by the Department of Public Safety at Humber.
The safety booth provided brochures with information about Humber’s Guardian app and its features that students can utilize.
One of its features is the campus walk, where upon request, staff members can walk students to their classes, in and out of the parking lots, and other areas of the campus.
The Public Safety Department Coordinator David Yen said the department will also be holding violence minimization training on March 23 on the Lakeshore Campus and on April 4 on the North Campus for students and staff.
Arora said Humber is an inclusive space and FYE aims to host events in support for people regardless of who they are and where they come from.
“I know the world hasn’t been kind to a lot of people, especially women, but it has gotten better and it is headed to be even better,” he said.
Airi Kakizaki, a second year student from Humber’s Fitness and Health program, said she didn’t know about International Women’s Day when she lived in Japan.
“In my country, there’s still discrimination. Here, women are more equal so I have more opportunities,” she said.
Kakizaki said she would like to spread awareness about International Women’s Day in her home country and wants to remind women that they are all important.