Visitors were already lining outside the Espace Leo Ferre’s doors Friday morning for the eighth edition of the annual PowHer Event. By the time Minister of State Christophe Mirmand officially launched the edition, the venue was filling fast.
However, the Prime Minister wasn’t just there for the ceremonial launch, but to complete the full trail himself, accompanied by official delegates and Interministerial Delegate for Women’s Rights Céline Cottalorda, collecting clues by visiting each workshop, before crossing the finishing arch at the end.
For this edition, the Powher event turned its attention to inequalities in sport and health, tracing them through the different stages of a woman’s life, from childhood to old age.
Speaking to Monaco Life ahead of the event, Cottalorda walked us through the space. “Here we have a space where six Monegasque sportswomen have been photographed,” she said. “You also have a whole course with different stands to explore the different stages of a woman’s life, from childhood to senior years.”
At each of the eight workshops – all run by Monaco’s associations and institutional partners including the CHPG, the RedCross, Pink Ribbon, and the Zonta Club – visitors were expected to do more than simply stroll around and read.
“You have to participate, find answers to questions, sometimes perform cardiac massage, and various other interactive things,” Cottalorda explained. “You collect a clue and then you can go up on stage.
One stand in particular stood out. “The public safety stand is interesting because they made a short interactive film to talk about violence,” she said. “You have to say whether a behaviour is violent or not. So there’s a really fun interactive section,” even though the subject matter was anything but light.
The finishing line
Completing all the workshops unlocks a password, granting access to the main stage: a finishing arch by Monegasque street artist Anthony Alberti, known as Mr One Teas.
Cottalorda demonstrated the ritual herself during the interview, creating a small drawing before stepping through. “It’s not the end of the fight for women’s rights,” she said. “It’s just the end of the course.”
Visitors are photographed as they cross the line and leave with a printed photo.
On what she hoped visitors would take away, Cottalorda told Monaco Life: “The goal for us is to talk about inequalities in sport and health. What we hope is that people learn things, because there is important information at each workshop.”
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Main photo credit: Monaco Life