Library and Information services (LIS) for Westonaria had the great privileged to celebrate Women’s Day along with motivational speaker Julia Paris on 10 August at the Main Library.
The day started with a brunch where the women were seated around a beautifully decorated breakfast table and shared this time as a family.
The programme kicked off with a moment of silence for the brave women of 1956 who marched to the Union Buildings to march against the pass laws.
Addressing the more than 50 women, Julia spoke about the role of women in the ever changing landscape of our country, taking a time to honour the twenty thousand women who marched for basic human rights on 9 August 1956 helping to bring about a democratic South Africa.
Refilwe Tlali, a Grade 11 pupil from Westonaria High School, shared her views on how to choose your friends wisely.
This was followed by a talk on image and how to dress and apply make-up with success. The women were taught how to drape a scarf to accentuate their outfits.
The final talk was on letting go of social masks to radiate their authenticity and feminine radiance.
Julia, a librarian at the University of Johannesburg, is a woman who forces positive change while addressing socio-economic issues and illiteracy throughout South Africa. While talking to the audience Julia stressed that life is a balancing act, gaining and giving.
She is proof that one person can change the world.
It may take a long time for those changes to manifest but if, like the women who marched in 1956, we stick with what we believe that we are destined to succeed.
According to the programmes librarian, Righardt le Roux, not only women but all of us need to remember we are confronted with an array of choices on a daily basis crowding our lives.
“We are able to block out some of these issues crowding our lives and through this process of getting to know ourselves better to make instantaneous decisions which will benefit us best and assist us to thrive in our own uniqueness,” says Righardt.
“This is a lovely and joyful way of also releasing old baggage and in this way not just healing the self but bringing you face to face with yourself, on your own terms.”
The programme ended with excitement, laughter and a lot of joy. The day was a huge success and all the women present expressed their gratitude and hope for a follow-up session in 2014.
