March is always Women’s Rights Month at El Poble Nou de Benitatxell. The Councillorship of Equality, in collaboration with the Women’s Association, the European Union of Women Marina Alta, Clásicas y Modernas, the Municipal Library and the Municipal Football School, has prepared numerous activities for all interests and ages, which will begin on March 3rd and continue until the 10th.
Under the slogan “Equal rights on the street, in sport and in culture”, the Council of El Poble Nou de Benitatxell presented the official programme last Tuesday to mark March 8th, International Women’s Day. The programme focuses on continuing its tribute to the elderly working women of the municipality. «Following the success of the first edition, this year we are reaffirming our commitment to local history. With “Memoria Viva II” we want to continue rescuing the stories of our women from oblivion. It is a necessary homage to those women who were pioneers in supporting their families financially with their work, and who today are the mirror in which new generations should see themselves,” emphasised the Councillor of Equality, Isa Garrido.
The programme will symbolically begin on February 23rd with the visual campaign “Nuestros balcones hablan” (Our balconies speak), which will decorate the streets of the town centre with messages calling for real equality.
Culture and historical memory
The central focus of the commemoration will be the documentary and photographic project “Memoria Viva II”. On Tuesday March 3rd (7:00 p.m., Social Centre), the photographic exhibition by Jake Abbott will be inaugurated, while on Saturday March 7th, also at 7:00 p.m. at the Social Centre, the documentary of the same name produced by “El Mirall de la Marina” will be screened. Both events seek to rescue and highlight the fundamental, often invisible role of women, for whom work-life balance was not at all favourable.
Associative participation and sport
This year, the Women’s Association of El Poble Nou de Benitatxell will be organising the week, leading activities that promote coexistence. On Wednesday 4th, after an urban walk, the 1st Local Women’s Football Tournament will take place, highlighting the rise of women’s sport. Likewise, on Thursday 5th, the traditional afternoon of games with chocolate and mona will be held, and on Sunday 8th, the great fellowship meal will take place after the reading of the institutional manifesto (1.30 pm, Social Centre).
Reflection and training
Critical thinking will have its place in the programme with the morning meeting of the European Union of Women Marina Alta (EUWMA) at the Jávea Golf Club on Friday 6th. A theatre evening has also been scheduled with the play “Apaga’m que m’encenc” (Turn me off because I’m burning) in the evening of Friday 6th, and a film forum at the Library led by Anna Moner on Monday 9th, both organised by the Women’s Association.
To close the programme, on Tuesday March 10th, Marina Gilabert, from Clásicas y Modernas association, will give a much-needed talk on the return of traditional gender roles among young people, analysing the current challenges in terms of equality.
The Councillorship of Equality invites all members of the public to participate in these events, which combine memory, culture and vindication to continue building a freer and more equal El Poble Nou de Benitatxell.
