Women play a large role in this small school, from the women who make sure the classes are spotless to the women who guide us with endless effort in the classroom, to those who contribute to the smooth running of the school. Southern Cross is grateful for all the subtle and significant things you have done for your learners.

Education is a basic need everyone should have met, yet millions of women around the world are denied this right because of their gender. There are 16.7 million girls not in school in sub-Saharan Africa, 9.3 million of who will never set foot in a classroom. Something as trivial as gender shouldn’t stand in the way of one’s education.

“I tell my story not because it is unique, but because it is the story of many girls.”- Malala Yousafzai.

In many countries being a woman will not be celebrated. Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani woman, challenged this. She is an activist for women’s rights to education and was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize at 17 for her efforts. She became the youngest-ever Nobel laureate.

Marie Currie was the first person (not woman) to win two separate Noble prizes: Physics and Chemistry. This memorable moment in history answered the questioned of whether women really belonged in academics and deserved education. She proved that women should be treated as men’s equals, at the very least.

A scarier statistic than women’s education, is that over 40% of South African women will be raped in their lifetime and that only 1 in 9 rapes are reported. This horrific statistic is rarely truly acknowledged. Women around the world suffer from man’s doings. In silence they suffer because they know that often this world will turn their back on them even if they did speak out.

We thank the woman who speak out for those who can’t. The beautiful and bold woman who fight for equal rights. Those who will not be silenced by man’s ignorant hand.

It’s time for all to acknowledge women’s capabilities, strengths and past. Rebuild this country by taking a step further for the mothers, daughters, and sisters of our bleeding land.

Written by: A Southern Cross College student