I will never be the same again!

March the 8th is recognized around the world as International Women’s Day.

In addition to celebrations around the globe, this special day is marked by a two week commission by the United Nations, which has helped to create a historic legacy of internationally agreed strategies, standards, programmes and goals to advance the status of women worldwide. Today, a central organizing principle of the work of the United Nations is that no enduring solution to society’s most threatening social, economic and political problems can be found without the full participation and the full empowerment of the world’s women.

The opportunities and promises presented by International Women’s Day convinced a number of Mercy students to visit the U.N. and spend the day learning more about women’s history and discovering the beauty and diversity from around the world. A number of students from Gwynedd Mercy Academy, Mc Auley High School, Merion Mercy Academy and St. Catherine Academy who attended the Mercy Leadership Conference, reassembled to experience this day together. Sister Deirdre Mullan of Mercy Global Concern greeted the girls at the United Nations and introduced them to a whirlwind of events and stories about the realities of women in today’s society. The events included a guided tour through some of the rooms representatives meet in, exhibits of award winning photos, and historical artifacts, along with an internationally diverse lunch and participation in a conference on the “Role of Men and Boys in Gender Equality”. Afterwards the students were invited to the Mercy office at the UN.

Each student was given a ‘goodie bag’ which included the UN charter, the role of the Sisters of Mercy at the UN and a UN pen.

This day filled with learning and fun, ended with a stop at the beautiful multi-denominational chapel at the UN. Reflecting on a day spent at the UN, and what she had seen and heard, a St. Catherine’s Academy junior Hemandria Busgeeth mused,

“I will go home and never be the same again.”

Her words ring true for all the participants. God Bless.

Aden Munassar
SCA Class of ‘04