It’s International Women’s Day and local women took part by participating in a women’s march, organized by Desert Sun Counselling and Osoyoos Soroptimists. (Vanessa Broadbent photo)

By Vanessa Broadbent

Osoyoos Times

Armed with signs and water buckets, local women participated in International Women’s Day and came together for Osoyoos’ first women’s march on Friday afternoon.

The nearly one kilometre walk from Gyro Beach to McDonalds was organized by Desert Sun Counselling and Osoyoos Soroptimists and aimed to raise awareness of how water issues affect women globally.

According to UNICEF, women and girls across the world collectively spend 200 million hours every day walking to collect water.

The average distance four miles, and many women make the trip twice a day, keeping them from working or attend school, Desert Sun executive director Marieze Tarr explained.

“It really impacts their chances in life,” she said. “To me, coming from South Africa, I grew up seeing girls and women carrying water so it really touches my heart.”

The theme also aligned with Soroptimist International’s current appeal, Women Water and Leadership, chosen by the society’s president every two years.

“(The women’s march) was just kind of born,” Osoyoos Soroptimist president Wendy Zelter said. “It wasn’t ‘why are we doing this,’ but more ‘why have we never done this.’”

More than a dozen women participated in Osoyoos’ first women’s march, organized by Desert Sun Counselling and Osoyoos Soroptimists. (Vanessa Broadbent photo)

More than a dozen local women participated in the march.

For Kathy Schroder, it was a way to stand in solidarity with women around the world.

“It’s so easy for us, because we’re all so privileged living in the first world, to realize that some don’t have water,” she said. “I think it’s important just to bring those things out in the open and be aware of it and support women’s rights.”

Linda Walton said many people don’t realize how fortunate they are to live in North America, and the event helped raise awareness.

“I think it makes people aware, hopefully, that there are big issues out there and women need to stand together.”

Going forward, Tarr hopes to see a women’s march take place every year, potentially highlighting a different issue women face. She’d also like to see even more women participate.

“I think people are very supportive and happy that something is happening but it would be great to see more people,” she said.

(Vanessa Broadbent photo)

(Vanessa Broadbent photo)

(Vanessa Broadbent photo)

(Vanessa Broadbent photo)

(Vanessa Broadbent photo)