PEC women support local and global causes – video

Appropriately, more than 100 women attended Prince Edward County’s celebration of the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day.
Participants sang, danced, clapped, learned and supported local and global causes related to the betterment of women.
Prince Edward County’s Alternatives for Women will be presented donations of hygiene items and cash. Alternatives for Women is dedicated to providing safe and confidential services while working to end violence and abuse of women.

An auction and raffle of cakes raised funds for 60 Million Girls, a public foundation established in 2006 to support education for girls in developing countries. An estimated 110 million children around the world don’t have access to primary school education – of those, 60 million are girls.
The County’s Jeanette Arsenault, with Rising Star People’s Choice winner Abby Chapman, performed the song ‘Secret Dreams’ in support of the program.
Arsenault wrote the song for the 60 Million Girls organization which is run entirely by volunteers. All donations received are allocated directly to the organization’s projects.
“Empowering women and girls through education is their mandate and through the tireless efforts of many volunteers, they have succeeded in building schools in several communities around the world,” Arsenault says. “When I read about their work, I was inspired to write ‘Secret Dreams’ which now has a French version as well thanks to Micheline Lortie, a retired French school teacher with a passion for education.”
From the lyrics of Secret Dreams:
She watches her mother caring for her brothers
Who have just gotten home from school
She’d love to go someday but she knows there is no way
It’s a well-known unwritten rule
She works all day as her childhood slips away
She is wise beyond her years at just thirteen
She is her mother’s daughter who does what she’s been taught
Though her mind is on things unseen
She has dreams, Secret Dreams

CHORUS:
She knows there’s something out there
There’s got to be a door that leads to something more
She believes that someone, somewhere
Holds the key to her destiny
60 million girls (Secret Dreams)
All around the world (Secret Dreams) …

For more on 60 Million Girls, visit www.60milliongirls.org

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International Women’s Day celebration moves to Picton

Prince Edward County’s International Women’s Day spotlight will be on The Feminine Face of Spirituality during celebrations Tuesday, March 8 at the Picton Town Hall from noon to 2 p.m.
March 8 is International Women’s Day and is celebrated all over the world in almost every country.  The United Nations officially declared this day in 1977, however the day has been marked since 1911.  At that time a devastating fire resulted in the death of many women in New York City in a shirt factory which was exploiting the cheap labour from poor women. Over the past 100 years, events have celebrated the accomplishments of women, and point out challenges that remain.
For the past six years Prince Edward County’s event has been held in the Bloomfield Town Hall but this year it moves to the Picton Town Hall from noon-2 pm.  Guests are invited to bring a brown bag lunch. Note: scent-free event.
“Once again we thank the Prince Edward District Women’s Institute for its generous financial support,” says Roz Bound, one of the organizers. “Some of the members will be baking cakes to mark this 100th year birthday and these will be part of a silent auction.”
Highlighting the theme “The Feminine Face of Spirituality”, the County’s Roz Bound, Lynne Donovan and Lynn Watson will be speaking.  Inspiring  music by Jeanette Arsenault and Rising Stars and rhythmic drumming will be featured along with readings from local poets.
Donations of personal hygiene items and household goods for the local agency Alternatives for Women will be welcomed and any money raised that day will go to a Canadian organization, 60 Million Girls – www.60milliongirls.org   This group raises money to help educate girls all over the world.
Celebrate on Tuesday, March 8 – Noon – 2 p.m. at Picton Town Hall (above the fire hall)