By Lila Seling
The International Day 2025 was held on Saturday, 8th March in the West End Centre in Aldershot UK was organized by the Greater Rushmore Nepali Community. This is one of the main events in the local calendar for this community.
IWD is a fun-filled day with many speakers and activities, flute music, and song. It is celebrated every year. This year ‘s theme was “Accelerate Action”.
The chief guest was the mayor of Rushmore Borough Mara Makunura, and the special guest was the honorable Member of parliament MS. Alex Baker from Rushmore Borough and former Councillor Jennifer Evans,
Cllr Leila Card, Cllr Julie Hall and Cllr Peace Godino, Cllr Sophie Porter , Cllr Dhan Bahadur Sharkie and Kath O’Rouke from the community team of Rushmore Borough .
There were male and female leaders from a range of groups within Nepali society, such as writers, sportswomen, social activists, artists, speakers and supporters.
Community leaders present were Ganesh Gurung president of Camberley Nepalese Gurkha Association, and his wife Debendra Maden Limbu, president of Black Water Nepalese Community, Jagan Gurung chair of BCC UK Ama Samuha, Dhana Roka Magar president of MAUK , Madhu Gurung sect. of Gurkha Ama Samuha Empire and Sushila Rai NRNA ICC UK.
Also present were Than Kuman Nalbo Kirat Yakthung Chumlung UK Rushmore Branch, Bikram Bhattarai president of Siva Cultural Community Centre, Shanti Limbu, president of Panther Samaj Sewa UK, Pratima Joshi vice president of Pasa Puchha Guthi Aldershot UK, Brinda Gurung chair of Fleet Nepali community ( Ama Samuha ) and Roji Rai president of Kirat Rai Yayokha Tayama Khiyama UK
The programme started at 11 am and ended at 3.30 pm. It was so well attended that there was an insufficient room in the hall and extra space had to be opened up.
The Health and safety and Inauguration program was run by the general Secretary of the GRNC Sunil Rana, the IWD introduction was presented by Goma Rana (Assistant media secretary ). Lila Seling Mabo, coordinator of the program, welcomed everyone to the event. President Mr.Man Gurung thanked everyone who had helped to run this event. Vice President Jeet Menyangbo had arranged the refreshment for the occasion. Vice of the GRNC Dr Bishal Gurung also assisted in the organization of the event.
There were many speakers from different fields , for example Sarina Ghale , Gold medaliast -WMAC English open Martial Arts championship, shrijana shing Thakuri- Former Nepali National Footbal player, Shanti Limbu- Women empowerment ,Sushila Magar – GRNC community Connect, Makhelchhu /WBC / RNRC-Nikita Gurung/ sadhana Bura, Aliza Gurung – Domestic Violence, Anusha Gurung project together – Nisha Tiwari – Rushmore Healthy Living.
A poem was recited by Jagana Gurung, singer Bimala Gurung sang a modern song, Retd. Capt Bir Thapa sang in English, and Mr. Dinesh Gurung played the Flute .
The media team Nagendra Nembang, Mila Tamu and Goma Rana helped to take video, photos and broadcast of program.
The chief guest, the Mayor of Rushmoor stressed that women are working tirelessly to break the gender barrier and making great contributions to society the world over and encouraged us all to work together to promote and support all women in our own Rushmore Borough.
Member of Parliament Ms Alex Baker said that she feels she has the responsibility to listen to every community and she has employed a Nepali staff in Parliament house to enable better communication with Nepali (Gurkha) people. She said that it doesn’t matter what party you are interested in but we need to have representatives from every community. Her speech was translated by Sushila Magar in Nepali to make easy to understand for Nepali speakers. Councilor Sophie Porter expressed that women must have voice in the community.
The International Women’s Day celebration was a great success and very informative and proved to be an inspiring and uplifting event.
