Explore the World

Celebrating 12 years – Upstate International Month – March 1 – 31, 2024

UIM is a month-long program of internationally themed events designed to highlight, promote and celebrate the rich international and cultural diversity we all share in and benefit from living in the Upstate. Since it began in 2013, we’ve had over 100 internationally themed events happening throughout the Upstate every March providing opportunities for hundreds upon hundreds of people to be introduced to a variety of cultural experiences.  Upstate International is the catalyst that encourages, and the glue that holds together, all of the international events happening in March in an effort to educate and excite the public and celebrate the Upstate’s international diversity and connections.

International Women’s Day, celebrated annually on March 8th, is a global event that recognizes the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women while advocating for gender equality.

International Women’s Day has its roots in the early 20th century, when women’s rights activists advocated for equal opportunities, including the right to vote, work, and hold public office. The first National Women’s Day was observed in the United States on February 28, 1909, and later, it transformed into an international event. In 1975, the United Nations officially recognised International Women’s Day, making it a global occasion for raising awareness and promoting gender equality.

Although the holiday originally started as a Christian feast day celebrating the life of St. Patrick and the spreading of Christianity to Ireland, today, it is a day of revelry and a celebration of all things Irish.

St. Patrick’s Day is officially observed on March 17 each year, though celebrations may not be limited to this date. The significance of March 17 is that it’s said to be the date of St. Patrick’s death in the late 5th century (circa A.D. 493).

The date of March 20 was chosen to celebrate the anniversary of the Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT) which was born on March 20, 1970, in Niamey, Niger. This agency marks the first step towards Francophone cooperation, which will become the International Organization of La Francophonie a little later. (UNESCO https://www.unesco.org/en/days/francophonie)

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) share this common vision that places culture and language at the heart of any lasting effort for peace. and development.

Shakespeare Week is celebrated from March 21 to March 27, 2024, and we’re here to tell you how you can celebrate the week in the best possible way. Do you know that it has been more than 500 years since Shakespeare was born? Shakespeare Week was created to celebrate the life and works of one of the greatest literary geniuses in history, William Shakespeare. It is celebrated in schools and colleges to give students a chance to understand Shakespeare and his plays. In addition, many competitions, plays, and games are organized with Shakespearean themes.

Graphic: hydesville.com Hydesville School

In many parts of the world, drinking water supplies are not clean but are polluted and a constant danger. Many deadly diseases are transmitted due to contaminated water that is consumed for lack of a better water source. Other problems include: a simple lack of water, water is present but not affordable, excessive water waste, and destruction of aquatic habitats.