Estella Foundation marks International Women’s Day

(CNS): Books and Books, in conjunction with the Empowerment and Community Development Agency, will be hosting a public event for International Women’s Day on Monday, 9 March, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm recognising the ‘Heroes Among Us’. One of the guest speakers at the event will be Marilyn Conolly, who has been invited to speak about the life and legacy of well-known advocate for women’s issues, the late Estella Scott-Roberts. This year’s global theme for International Women’s Day 2009 is, “Women and men united to end violence against women and girls”.

Conolly, who is vice-chairperson of the Estella Scott-Roberts Foundation said, “The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is so pertinent to the foundation whose vision statement is ‘Gender equality and a life free of violence for all’.”

Each year around the world, International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on 8 March to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women. A release from the foundation notes that at the beginning of the year, the Cayman Islands dedicated its National Heroes Day 2009 to celebrating the accomplishments and contributions of its Caymanian women. Following on this theme, the 2009 theme for Honouring Women Month (HWM), a local observance held every year in March, is ‘Heroes Among Us’.

This year’s IWD and HWM themes are especially poignant to the foundation, which was founded as a non-profit organisation in honour and loving memory of women and children’s rights activist, the late Estella Scott-Roberts. The foundation was established to continue Estella’s life’s work by advocating for a life free of violence and for the empowerment of women and girls in all areas of life.

Estella worked extensively towards eradicating domestic abuse in the Cayman Islands and educating the population on domestic abuse and sexual assault, and she was instrumental in establishing the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre, a safe shelter for victims of domestic abuse and their children.

Individuals or organisations that would like to assist the Estella Scott-Roberts Foundation with its objectives can make monetary donations to Cayman National Bank Account Number 012-32856 (CI chequing) or volunteer their time or services. For more information on the Estella Scott-Roberts Foundation please call 345-938-6300, email esrfoundation@gmail.com, visit www.esrfoundation.org.ky or mail correspondence to P.O. Box 84 Grand Cayman KY1-1501 CAYMAN ISLANDS.