Whether raising families or running nations, women are taking charge and shaping the world in seriously exciting ways. International Women’s Day offers a well deserved opportunity to trumpet this fact and celebrate women’s individual and collective accomplishments. It’s a day to honor and praise those women who have made a difference in your life, and a day to recognize the incredible advancements the world has made toward gender equality. So get out and celebrate! Bring in a box of cupcakes for all of the amazing women in your office, give your mom a hug, send an e-card to your personal trainer! Let the women in your life know how much you admire them!
But please, don’t stop there. International Women’s Day also acts as an important reminder that not all women have equal opportunity to realize their full potential. It’s a day to reaffirm our commitment to the countless women who still live in poverty, as second class citizens, and without access to education, gainful employment or the resources needed to live secure lives. Despite huge advances in women’s rights, it’s estimated that 60% of hungry people and 70% of those living in poverty are women and girls. Across developing nations, women do two-thirds of the work, yet receive only 10 per cent of the world's income and own just 1 per cent of the means of production. Only through collective, deliberate action can we hope to change this sad reality, and International Women’s Day offers an excellent reminder to breathe new life into your commitment to making female inequality a distant memory.
Bottom line, no celebration of global womanhood would be complete without recognizing the unique needs of women across the developing world. This International Women’s Day, use some of the suggestions below to work for our sisters who have been left behind!
1. Give girls the tools they need to change their world by fostering education
Educating girls is one of the most direct ways to helping women break the chains of poverty. Educated women are more likely to participate in the workforce, raise healthier families, and make meaningful contributions to society. Yet, over half of children who don’t attend primary school are girls (according to the World Bank, 35 million girls are out of school compared to only 31 million boys). Over half of those girls reside in Sub-Saharan Africa. School, supplies and uniforms are often prohibitively expensive. Young marriages, multiple pregnancies, and cultural norms disproportionately bar girls from receiving a comprehensive education.
Fortunately, we have the power to change this reality! Consider helping girls receive the educations they want and deserve by donating to schools for girls, by contributing to programs that help cover the cost of tuition and uniforms or by sending school supplies to underserved schools. Programs that recognize the need to support female education abound! Information on Develop Africa’s own education initiatives can be found here. Information on our partnership with FAWE girls’ school in Sierra Leone can be found here.
2. Support female entrepreneurs by investing in woman-led businesses
Whether buying fairly traded jewelry crafted by women’s collectives, making a financial donation to workforce training programs, or lending start-up money to a budding entrepreneur, helping women take their rightful place in the workforce is critical to fostering empowerment. Too often, women act as unpaid laborers in the home and field. Too often they’re underpaid for the services and goods they provide and suffer from unequal access to markets.
Consider helping women claim their rightful place in the working world through one of the above suggestions! As a bonus, when women do enter the workforce, they’re more likely than their male counterparts to invest their income in their family and community; a growing body of research shows that their participation creates lasting improvements to national economies!
Interested in workforce development? Why not check out Develop Africa’s own microloan project and job training program to learn more?
3. Help a young girl realize her full potential by sponsoring a child
Sponsorship offers an opportunity to create a deep and lasting bond with a child who needs you. It offers a unique chance to ensure a child can reach their full potential and experience a healthy, happy life. A chance to guide a empower a young girl by providing access to the resources and education she needs to succeed in life. Even better? Your support often extends to the larger community, amplifying your ability to change lives. Most sponsorship programs require a monthly financial pledge but the lifelong bond you’re sure to create –coupled with the joy of watching your sponsor child reach their full potential- is sure to be ample reward for your commitment.
Consider starting your journey as a sponsor with Develop Africa by reading more here!
4. Become an advocate for female empowerment by educating yourself
Know your facts. The first step toward becoming an agent for change in the fight for gender parity is to truly understand women’s unique plight, their incredible and undeniable potential, and the ways in which we can work to help those who have been left behind. The obstacles women face are multifaceted, their potential for success is unlimited. Knowing why will be tantamount to creating change. A few great educational resources include:
www.worldbank.org (search the topic “gender” for tons of information)
Do you have specific questions about work being done to empower women in Africa? Never hesitate to post questions on our facebook page!
5. Speak up for women by sharing their unique obstacles and incredible potential with your network
One of quickest and easiest ways to help women achieve complete equality is to let the world know how many women suffer disadvantages based solely on their gender. Providing the tools and information people need to take a stand is a quick and easy way to augment the global fight for women’s equality. So, consider using facebook or twitter to encourage your friends and family to get involved. If you write a blog, consider sharing tips on how to help disenfranchised women realize their full potential. Use International Women’s Day or Women’s History Month (celebrated the entire month of March!) as a launching point to write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Bottom line, get loud and be heard! Raise your voice for women worldwide and see what an incredible impact you’ll have.
