In Nepal we go big when celebrating International Women’s Day and you should too

Here, Anna Townsend, director of charity Women Without Roofs explains why Nepali women take marking the day dedicated to women very seriously.

My guess is that most people reading this are not planning to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) today. It’s one of those United Nations days that pass by without making much of a stir in the UK. Yet, it’s a big deal for women in Asia. In Nepal, where I run the charity Women Without Roofs (WWR), the Social Welfare Council monitors our activities and insists we must mark the day appropriately. They even check up on us!

IWD is often a fun day with plenty of food. When I tell our ladies that it isn’t celebrated where I’m from, they tell me we are missing out. As Christians, IWD is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions made by women in our churches and communities. It’s also a chance to learn more about the plight of women worldwide, who face many more difficulties than us.