By JULIUS MBALUTO

Women from diverse communities gathered at West Herts College to commemorate this year’s International Women’s Day. They spoke about great things they do but their focus was on mental well-ness. The event was hosted by Spiced in Watford Cooking Experience founded by Eva Mbiru. It has been supported by Watford Football Club, Chamber of Commerce, Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care and Rotary Club.

The event was attended by Watford MP Matt Turmaine, PC Dani Howlett-Bolton -Community Engagement Officer, CLLR Rabi Martins, Guest Speaker Neelam Chalwa and others. Singer LadyPruu ensured all were entertained. The aim of Spiced in Watford cooking series is to create a conducive environment where anyone going through mental stress at home or workplace can meet other people going through the same to chat and socialize while cooking.Experts have argued that cooking activity can nourish the body, the mind and soul. Others see it as an experimental therapy.

Speaking during the meeting, MP for Watford Matt Turmaine said:

“We should remember what we think about International Women’s Day not just as one day of the year event but every day. Women have such a great hard time across the world, different regimes do not respect and treat women in the way that they should- in this country we struggle with what we call glass ceiling and equal pay even though its more than 50 years since equal pay was introduced by Barbara Castle and still, we don’t have equal pay. In relation to mental health, it’s a big health crisis and we really need to recognize that. There is a lot of health inequalities we experience that we have in the society. “

The MP said he is doing something to address that. The Guest Speaker Neelam Chalwa spoke on the importance of creating more awareness on Mental Health. She said,

“Tell people what mental health is. Mental health is not a negative word, it needs pampering. It needs looking after. “

She said although we cannot change the world, we should try to change the life even of one person. She urged all attending to prioritise looking after themselves to ensure their mental well-ness.

During the panel talk, different experts and leaders also in different fields shared about what they do and how they could be contacted in the future engagement. The key message to all women attending was to look after themselves and others for a better society.

UNESCO has commended the annual Mundari Cultural Festival for preserving culture and promoting unity.

Country Director Julius Banda expressed the sentiments as thousands gathered in Terekeka County, Central Equatoria State, on Saturday to celebrate the annual event mainly dedicated to promoting unity.

The UNESCO representative called on the South Sudanese communities, especially the Mundari, to ensure cultural values are passed down to the younger generations.

He also urged the Mundari to ensure their children are sent to school.

“As we congratulate you for promoting culture, let us make sure that we are transmitting it to the future generations by keeping the language, and teaching it to the children, and making sure that we keep the girls in school, and they finish their education,” he said.

“As we go forward, let use our identity and culture to promote peaceful co-existence among the 64 tribes that make up South Sudan,” he added.

The event, marked by vibrant traditional dances, also featured the neighboring communities such as the Bari of Juba County, the Nuer, the Acholi, the Cholo and Ugandans.

The function was graced by traditional Mundari leaders, alongside state and national government officials.

The organizing committee chairperson, John Bero Pitia, said the purpose of the festival was to foster unity between the Mundari and the neighboring communities who sometimes experienced conflicts.

“This event has brought the people of South Sudan together,” Pitia said.

“It has united individuals from all the Payams of Terekeka who came in love and peace.”

Pitia called on the Mundari youth to uphold the spirit of unity in order to guarantee lasting peace.

“I want to say to my community, the Mundari, that let us welcome and show love to our brothers who join us in the event. We want them to be together,” he stressed. Radio Tamazuj