After a days VSO training on the subject of social inclusion and gender, it's appropriate to see a local women's group celebrating the IWD
Akhaya is where I spent four months and they are a leading movement here in Myanmar for advancing issues which affect women.

They are running an event at Peoples Park with Shwedagon as a backdrop.

There are activities, talks, music and theatre and it's an upbeat atmosphere. Young girls and teenagers speak from the stage about their own experiences of abuse and violence and it is very inspiring.
There is a poster picture of a young girl, selling seagull food on the street, abandoned by her family because she was born on the wrong day of the week.

I meet with my former colleagues including Htar Htar (who the Guardian once described as the quiet revolutionary ) and her sister Pa Pa who works tirelessly for women.

I am encouraged assertively to join the dancing on stage - the signature tune is Katy Perry's 'roar'. It's good fun to participate and a few days later, when I meet the Chairperson of WON, she tells me she saw me dancing on 'Facebook'!