International Women’s Day 2025 theme
Strength in every story
This year’s theme highlights the importance of amplifying the voices of all women, particularly those who continue to face barriers to success. Creating opportunities for women and girls unlocks their potential and drives innovation, and helps ensure a sustainable future for all.
Every woman’s story is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of opportunity.
This International Women’s Day, celebrate the women and girls in your life and share their stories.
From February 24 - 28 the Spanky Project was on the ground in Havana.
We celebrated women ahead of
International Women's Day ( March 8, 2025)
Our most important event mirrored the theme above.
We taught a course in surgery for female vet students and young female veterinarians.
This specialized training was aimed at advancing their understanding and practical knowledge in order to help them help animals in the future.
This was the first of it's kind opportunity in Cuba.
Spanky Project is so proud to lead they way.
Each student was given a set of surgical instruments gifted by
Erica Balzer Higgins,
an associate of Dr. Amanda.
Suture practice pads were funded by longtime supporter, Roz Diamond
On the final day of the course, the students of our first Spanky Project surgery course and workshop were able to put their training into practice. We held a small sterilization campaign and every student was able to do some hands-on learning under the supervision of Dr. Amanda and Dr. Leyssan. 
The first surgery of the day was Perri, who belongs to our coordinator, Lianet.
Dr. Amanda demonstrated every step while the students looked on.
Perri in recovery!
In order to allow our students to focus on proper preparation and surgical techniques, many of our Spanky family members came to do fill the other supporting roles (registration, health exams, anesthesia, instrument cleaning, recovery) and we are grateful for their support.
They were all Spanky students at some point (some since 2016)
and wanted to help the future vets learn too.
We are so proud of you all.
There is a certain mindset and misconceptions that contribute the hindrance of women getting the opportunity and training they so much want.
In closing we saw the following messages in social media..
"The surgical skills of veterinarians are invaluable, but their female sensitivity makes them prefer to attend postoperative care in the Surgical Recovery Area.
Or be at the reception of the michis and firulais, to ensure a good surgical preparation.
Or else in the Sedacion Department, ensuring safe anesthesia induction.
All this translates into that, often, it is the male part that is engaged in the surgical act.
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"For Arelys León Laurenti “it was a wonderful and unique opportunity to be able to demonstrate the value of women within surgery in veterinary medicine.” In her opinion, it turned out to be the best occasion to be able to receive a class from the prestigious Dr. Amanda Bruce. It was incredible. "Hopefully it will be repeated". "
+++++
"Thanks to Dr.Amanda Bruce who has trusted us Cuban women veterinarians and has helped to demonstrate that we can be excellent surgeons and that we must ignore people with misconceptions that women's "sensitivity" is a barrier to play the role."
Behind the mask is a surgeon.
Be they male or female.
Given the opportunity and training there is a surgeon.
Thank you
Civil Heritage Society, Community and Environment (SCPCMA)
and
Havana City Historian's Office (OHCH)
for your collaboration and support.
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