Estepona celebrates International Women's Day with a diverse program of activities throughout March
The 8th of March Awards, workshops, and guided tours highlight the commemorative events
The Estepona City Council is marking International Women's Day this year with a series of events and activities throughout March. Among the most notable events are the traditional talks, workshops, and guided tours, as well as the official ceremony for the presentation of the ‘8th of March Awards,’ which will take place on Friday, March 7th, at 12:30 p.m. in the City Hall’s Plenary Hall.
A tribute to history and equality
The award ceremony will honor two key figures in the fight for equality. First, the ‘8th of March Award’ will be presented posthumously to the historic activist María Espinosa de los Monteros, Estepona’s beloved daughter and a key figure in the struggle for women's civil and political rights. This recognition coincides with the 150th anniversary of her birth and celebrates her tireless work for women's role enhancement and gender equality.
The second award will be given to Cristina García Aragón, Philosophy teacher at IES Mar de Alborán, for her work on the Equality Plan and her commitment to raising awareness about María Espinosa de los Monteros’ contributions.
During the event, students from IES Mar de Alborán will perform an artistic presentation titled Illustrating María Espinosa’s Conference, which will include photographs and performances by various students from the school. The musical closing will be led by Claudia Ballesteros Hernández, a student of the same school.
Workshops and educational activities
The activities commemorating March 8th will continue throughout the month with various workshops aimed at women and young people. On March 11th, 18th, and 25th, psychologist Ana Jesús Andrades Ruiz will lead Workshops on Relationship Breakups for users of the Municipal Center for Information on Women (CMIM). These workshops are designed to empower women dealing with relationship endings by providing psychological tools to make independent decisions and strengthen personal well-being.
Additionally, the program includes a pictorial conference on Sofonisba Anguissola, the first successful female painter of the Renaissance, which will be held on March 11th at 7:30 p.m. at the Library of Contemporary Cultures. The lecture will be delivered by Rocío Garín, a teacher at the municipal culture department’s Drawing and Painting Workshop.
Intergenerational talk and cultural tours
Another notable event will be the talk 8th of March with our elders, to be held on March 13th at the Isdabe Residential Care Center. The talk, led by equality officer Leticia Hidalgo Vázquez, will focus on the life experiences of older people and reflect on the historical inequalities between women and men.
The program will conclude with two guided tours. The first, on March 20th, will take visitors to the Castle of San Luis, along with the talk Stories of Remarkable Women in the Village. The second, on March 27th, will take visitors to the Mirador del Carmen Cultural Center to discover this modern public space housing the Music Conservatory, the Library of Contemporary Cultures, and an exhibition hall. Both tours are free, though advance registration is required at the CMIM.
Education on equality for young people
The Municipal Center for Information on Women has also organized educational activities for local schools. On March 4th, the Building Sexualities workshop will begin for 2nd-year ESO students at IES Profesor Tomás Hormigo, with sessions also planned for the IES Puerta del Mar and IES Mar de Alborán throughout March. This workshop focuses on improving self-esteem, self-awareness, and developing equal relationships.
On March 14th, the co-educational workshop With Equality, We All Win will be held for 1st-year ESO students at the Juan XXIII private school. This workshop, led by psychologist María José Delgado, aims to raise awareness among students about the importance of equality and preventing gender-based violence.
Estepona is once again joining the celebration of International Women's Day with an extensive program that ranges from culture to education and the empowerment of women. With activities for all audiences, the municipality reinforces its commitment to gender equality and recognizing the women who have made a mark on local history.
All activities in the program are free, but some require advance registration. For more information, interested parties can contact the Municipal Center for Information on Women.