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Women, men and children came out in force to celebrate the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day on 8 March 2011 with Women for Women International's Join me on the Bridge campaign. There were 464 events in 70 countries on 6 continents worldwide - and Soroptimists were there too!

From Kenya to Pakistan, the UK to Australia, Soroptimists around the word joined with each other and their local partners to celebrate International Women's Day and to stand in solidarity with women from war torn countries around the world.

Watch the highlights from 2011 in this short clip:

The idea for this bridge campaign first came about in 2010 when the Women for Women Country Directors for the Congo and Rwanda called for all women, whether they were Hutu, Tutsi, Rwandan or Congolese, to join them on the bridge that connects their two countries, which was the scene of the mass exodus when people were fleeing the genocide that tore Rwanda apart in 1994. Many more people wanted to join them in taking this stand for peace and hope in 2010, not only in other war-torn countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia and Sudan, but also from Australia to Hawaii, where women stood in solidarity with their sisters.  

2012 promises to be even bigger!  

Supporting Join Me on the Bridge is very easy. Simply select a bridge, get together with a group of friends, and promote your event to your wider networks.  Last year 75,000 people joined forces with other groups in their area, and this made a great impact in building wider support and solidarity locally as well as globally. 

Getting started:

1. Join the global movement and leave your message of peace
2. Find a bridge event near you
3. Or organise your own bridge event