HMI Hosts Its Largest International Women’s Day Celebration Yet!
On March 8, 2025, HMI proudly hosted our biggest International Women’s Day celebration to date, in partnership with the Universalist Unitarian Church of Riverside and Riverside County National Organization for Women (NOW). With over 100 attendees, this powerful gathering brought together refugee and newcomer women, local leaders, and community members to celebrate resilience, empowerment, and solidarity.
A Gathering for All Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.
This year’s theme, "For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment," set the stage for an inspiring afternoon filled with storytelling, shared experiences, and cultural appreciation. To ensure accessibility, we provided translated materials into Dari, Pashto, and Spanish as well as real-time Pashto interpretation, allowing our Afghan women community to fully engage in the event.
We kicked off with an interactive icebreaker, “Take 2 Minutes to Meet Someone New,” encouraging attendees to connect and build new friendships. This simple yet meaningful activity set a warm and welcoming tone for the rest of the day.
Empowering Voices: Our Speakers
Speaker Tahira Safi sharing her journey to the U.S., and Interpreter Sabahat Dawar
Our first speakers, Dr. Nielsen and Friba Dawar from HMI, introduced our organization’s mission to support girls and women both in Riverside and around the world. They also highlighted our newest initiative—the Afghan Women's Education Program, Success Journey Academy, which empowers Afghan girls abroad through education after the Taliban’s ban on girls’ education beyond 6th grade in 2021.
We then heard from Tahira Safi, an HMI team member and nursing student, who spoke in Dari with interpretation provided by HMI’s Data Analyst, Sabahat. Tahira shared her personal journey of coming to the United States with her family, overcoming challenges, and finding success as an academic tutor, teaching assistant, and case manager. Her story was a powerful testament to resilience and the importance of education.
Following Tahira, we welcomed Fauzia Rivzi, a water expert, systems engineer, small business owner, and the first Muslim woman elected in Riverside County. Her journey of breaking barriers in leadership and advocacy served as an inspiration to all.
Fauzia Rivzi, speaker at Women’s Day 2025
Our next speaker, novelist Liz Harmer, captivated the audience with a heartfelt poem about her experience moving to Riverside from Canada and finding love in her new home. Her words resonated deeply, offering comfort and encouragement to those creating a new life in an unfamiliar place.
Community Engagement and Cultural Expression
We then moved into a community activity, where each attendee received an Affirmation Card with empowering messages of self-love and confidence. Small group discussions fostered deep conversations about personal aspirations, challenges, and dreams. Our Afghan women community members bravely shared their hopes for the future, inspiring everyone in the room.
To close the event on a moving and celebratory note, Negar Hiji Kamali, a dance student from Iran at the UC Riverside Dance Program, performed a stunning dance piece that left the audience in awe.
We concluded the celebration with a powerful quote from Afghan activist and rapper Sonita Alizadeh:
“Believe in yourselves. You are strong. Speak up about your dreams and your goals every day so that everyone knows that you exist and you have the right to choose.”
A Celebration of Strength, Solidarity, and Hope
Throughout the event, attendees engaged in meaningful conversations, enjoyed traditional baklava and refreshments, and experienced the power of cultural expression through poetry and dance. This gathering was more than just a celebration—it was a statement of solidarity, a commitment to empowerment, and a testament to the strength of women everywhere.
As we reflect on this incredible day, we extend our gratitude to our partners, speakers, volunteers, and everyone who joined us in making this event so special. Let’s continue working together to uplift and empower women in our community and beyond!
