We have the pleasure of serving, accompanying, and advocating for and with women from around the world. We are humbled by their compassion, wisdom and power and acknowledge and celebrate them this International Women’s Day, and every day.

On the 6th of March, forty women gathered in international dress at the Watan Afghan Restaurant in Granville to celebrate together at JRS Australia’s International Women’s Day event. Clients, staff, volunteers, and sector partners came together to celebrate and eat an incredible Afghan feast.

The program included a game of trivia, a raffle, speeches from the Women’s Space community, a performance by Minh from Viet Babooz on traditional Vietnamese instruments, and “dances from around the world” where women shared their cultural dances with each other.

Women from Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Palestine, Malaysia, Vietnam, Lebanon, Papua New Guinea, Myanmar and Australia attended the event.

Three women also took the courageous step to deliver a short speech, reflecting on the importance of International Women’s Day and why we should celebrate women. This was the first time they had performed a speech, and they were supported to do so by our Refugee Leadership Program.

Please read excerpts from their speeches below.