Even though many of us today celebrate the rights we enjoy for which our grandmothers and mothers fought, the fight is far from over.

“The emerging global consensus is that despite some progress, real change has been agonizingly slow for the majority of women and girls in the world. Today, not a single country can claim to have achieved gender equality. Multiple obstacles remain unchanged in law and in culture. Women and girls continue to be undervalued; they work more and earn less and have fewer choices, and experience multiple forms of violence at home and in public spaces. Furthermore, there is a significant threat of rollback of hard-won feminist gains.” (source: UN Women)

So, what can we as women for women do to help right this wrong? These are just a few ideas I came up with. Please feel free to share yours.

Donate to a charity

Hearing a story about young girls in Africa having to miss school during their monthly period because they can’t afford sanitary pads or other products most of us take for granted, made me very sad. So I looked for a charity which deals with this issue and found one called Huru (huruinternational.org) Consider donating to this or any other charity of your choice. Every little helps. I will share some at the bottom of this text, but please share with me which ones support and know about and I will add the links as you do.

Voice your concerns

Share your thoughts and ideas, articles, etc. Talk to your men, family and friends, use social networks and platforms, etc. not just to celebrate your sisters but to inspire and remind everyone that we are still far from equality. According to the World Economic Forum study from a few years ago “Women have only 68 percent of the rights, opportunities, and access to resources enjoyed by the world’s men.” The WEF researchers say that, at our current pace, it will take 100 years to eradicate gender disparities. This is unacceptable! Use your voice to send this message as well as the positive one of how much we have done so far.

Get political

I know many of you don't like politics, and think it’s a dirty business, but it does run our world and it shapes our lives. Some things are worth fighting for, so see how you can get involved. Get informed on what is happening locally and how can you get involved. Often certain bills etc are passed without us even knowing because (myself included) we choose not to read the news etc., but we can only act if we are informed. Push your representatives to pass legislations which are more aligned with gender equality. Write letters, protest, support politicians who do want to make a change. There are some I am sure;).

Inspire the young generations

Teach your children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews, etc. what this day is really about. Teach them about equality and human rights for all. They are the ones who will inherit problems we won’t be able to fully solve. They are the ones who will need to continue the fight. Inspire in them the spark of fire so they know how important it is to fight for what they believe in. I am so grateful that my parents did.

Empower other women 

As a woman (and a man if you are reading this;) support other women. If you hold a place of power where you can hire or where you have a voice, fight to hire more women ,fight for equal pay, more rights, more equality in every sense of the word. Support your sisters. Fight for them, not against them. See how you can create a supportive community within your community - Women's circles if you are a yoga teacher, support groups if you are a therapist, a network where women in your community can meet other women and help each other get jobs, market something, launch a project, etc if you are into economics and finance, offer free legal aid if you are a lawyer. This is something I have been wanting to do for a while, so if you have an idea of how we can collaborate and create something together, let me know!

Love and support each other

Support your colleagues, neighbors, friends, peers, teachers, students… It can be from small things like helping your sisters grow her business with a like, follow and a share on socials for example. See women as sisters, not as adversaries. We should stick together and respect one another, not see each other as competition. Love each other, support each other, hug each other often.

And last, but not least… 

Love yourself! Only out of that love can you change the world. Look at yourself in the mirror today and see how beautiful you are. Love your body. Love every wrinkle. Each grey hair. Change what you want, but out of love. And see yourself. See how far you have traveled to get here. This mother, sister, partner, friend, yogini, change agent. See that fire in you, your softness, your strength, your love. Celebrate yourself today dear sister. I see you, I love you. And may we love, support and empower each other. Happy Women's day!

"I write for those women who do not speak, for those who do not have a voice because they were so terrified, because we are taught to respect fear more than ourselves. We've been taught that silence would save us, but it won't." - Audre Lorde

Some charities and NGO’s to consider:

Hellen Keller INT
Women’s Global Empowerment Fond
Every mother counts
Equality Now
Camfed
Fistula Foundation
Futures without violence
Women for Women
Care