Purple Parade 2015

Preparations are in hand for Southend's International Women's Day, Celebration...

The Theme for the 2015 event is: Equality for women is progress for all!

International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities... and Southend has a vast and diverse array of women who have and are quite extraordinary in the roles the play locally and on the international stage.

"Countries with more gender equality have better economic growth. Companies with more women leaders perform better. Peace agreements that include women are more durable. Parliaments with more women enact more legislation on key social issues such as health, education, anti-discrimination and child support. The evidence is clear: equality for women means progress for all." Ban Ki-Moon

The International Women's Day, celebration in Southend, will take place on:
Saturday, 7th March 2015
11am - 4pm

and will comprise of
The Purple Sash Parade and Post-Parade Party

The Purple Sash Parade:

The Starting/ Meeting Point:-  The Statue, adjacent to Southend Victoria Station.
Meeting times:- 10.40am - 11am

Parader's are asked to don their sash, on arrival, we will then organise ourselves into ranks, and be ready to set off on our parade promptly at 11am.

Paraders are invited to bring whistles, voo voo sala's and depending on funds raised we hope to have a mobile PA system which will be playing songs of empowerment as we parade down the Southend High Street... Banners and flags are also on our wish-list... 

If you are creative and want to make your own banner, placard or flag. these must be Purple & White as these are the official colours for International Women's Day! 

We will parade in an orderly, but noisy fashion down the full length of the Southend High Street - the parade itself will take around 45 minutes dependant on the number of paraders.

At the end of the parade, we will move off in an orderly way to our Post Parade Party Venue
(Venue to be confirmed) 

Post Parade Party:

The Post Parade Party will comprise of:

• Presentations by local women who advocate to social justice locally and internationally.
• Stall promoting local women artisans and business
• Stalls promoting community groups and services which provide help.support and empowerment for local women, personally and professionally.

The full list of speakers will be provided a little nearer the time.

As you might be aware, the Purple Sash Parade & Post Parade Party, raises funds for:

• SoS Women's Refuge: (60%)
  The refuge provides a range of services, help and support to local women and children escaping Domestic Violence; including emergency shelter.
  
• Momo Biogas (40%)
  Seeks to improve the lives of women and children in rural and remote Africa, through providing renewable gas; liberating the women and girls from the dangers of collecting wood in the wilds, where women and girls are vulnerable to predation by the wild-life. Through this project we are also improving the health and education outcomes for women and children.

For more information, buy your sash, or book your stall, please email:

Anna M. Heim

IWD - Projects Manager Southend-on-Sea

Full Project Accounts will be published here, 2-weeks after the Parade