Each year on March 8, thousands of events all across the globe are held in honor of International Women’s Day (IWD). This year, the Ames Public Library will be hosting an event in honor of the holiday on Saturday March 3 from 2 to 4 p.m.

This year’s theme for the event is “Connecting Women Around the World and Across Generations.” According to internationalwomensday.com, “If every IWD event held in 2012 includes girls in some way, then thousands of minds will be inspired globally.”

The IWD event at the library will begin with an Indian dance demonstration. Following the dance will be a panel discussion, where a panel of five international women from America, Pakistan, Nambia, China, and Nepal will answer questions about issues of importance to girls and women. The main topics for the panel are education, dating and marriage, and work opportunities. Following the panel, refreshments will be offered and there will be several interactive displays including a spice table, braiding, symbols of women, writing names in different languages, and a book cart.

IWD has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration of women in not only developed countries, but developing countries as well. It is now an official holiday in several countries including Afghanistan, Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia, Russia, Ukraine, and many others.

Comparable to our celebration of Mother’s Day, children and men traditionally present women with flowers and gifts; except this holiday celebrates not only mothers, but all women in general.

“International Women’s Day is not really about celebrating international women, but all women internationally,” said Barbara Gwiasda, volunteer for Friends of International Women, “The panel will be very interesting and will give people an insight into the lives of women from around the world…women will be able to see what freedom we have in the US.”

The event will be an eye opening learning opportunity, but also fun and interactive for audience members. Anyone is welcome and encouraged to come.