Last week students put down their pens and exercise books for an afternoon of activism to celebrate international women's day. Students led a march from the local primary school, Kitelewasi, to Lundamatwe Secondary School, carrying banners with messages such as "Women be confident" and "Women invest". Students performed plays and songs to the local community celebrating girls' energy and passion for education.

On their own initiative, students used the platform to highlight the risks that girls staying in unsafe accommodation face and demonstrate the importance of the girls' hostel. Parents were visibly moved by their depiction of the difficulties girls face.

Lyra is currently finishing a second hostel at Lundamatwe in response to demand, with funding from the Michael Matthews Foundation.

The event included planting fruit trees for the girls' hostel as a long term legacy to commemorate the day.