International Women’s Day: celebrating our inspirational colleagues around the world

For more than a century the world has marked International Women’s Day to celebrate women’s achievements while calling for gender equality. The day, which is observed on March 8th, brings together governments, organizations and charities, and corporations.

This year, we want to share inspiring messages from some of our female staff around the world who are helping to make the world a better place for women and girls everywhere.

Canada

Meet Alyssa Gagnon, a midwife in Canada who is a leader in our Bringing Birth Home program:

“There are so many people who inspire me. Most notably the Indigenous and people of colour who are health care providers, birth workers, artists, and activists who are doing amazing work for their communities. All of the Indigenous midwives that I know motivate and support me in my advocacy work to bring birth back to my community and to work in northern Ontario. My heart is with the communities of the James Bay where my kokom (grandmother) and moshom (grandfather) are from.

One message that I would share with girls, women, two-spirit, trans, non-binary, and gender complex people is to claim your identity(ies) and know that you are important and loved.”

Working in partnership with National Aboriginal Council of Midwives (NACM), our Bringing Birth Home program aims to increase access to Indigenous midwifery to reduce the need for forced maternal evacuations and improve the overall health of the community. The program focuses on increasing knowledge on sexual and reproductive health, community advocacy, and increasing midwifery capacity through mentorship and cultural knowledge.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo

Meet Julienne Baseke, a Gender Equality Specialist in the Democratic Republic of Congo:

“I [have] created a radio program to promote gender equality: Mama Radio. It is a tool to create an alternative space for women’s participation, and a platform for dialogue between women, girls, boys and men. I also led a program for gender equality in the media, which started the first gender equality in the media charter in the Great Lakes region [of East Africa]. I am also one of the pioneers of the “Nothing without Women” campaign, which is a national gender equality movement.

Women and girls are crucial resources, and we will capitalize on these crucial resources when we invest in women and girls’ education.”

Nicaragua

Meet Marta Garcia Terán, the Advocacy and Communication Coordinator at Save the Children Nicaragua:

“All the female bosses and leaders with whom I have worked with have been my inspiration. From them, I learned to work collaboratively, to put in practice sorority, to handle complicated situations and how to inspire those women who follow us.

Furthermore, and even when she is not alive, at Save the Children we also have a passionate, ambitious and powerful reference: Eglantyne Jebb.”

Ethiopia

Meet Doris Mpoumou, who is the Director of Save the Children’s African Union Advocacy Office based in Ethiopia:

“My mother was my first source of inspiration. It was fascinating to see the respect she commanded from peer and older male family members in a traditionally patriarchal Congolese society. While her mother-in -law denied her the opportunity to get an education, as a married 12-year-old, she was often the only woman invited to participate in making decisions during important family gatherings.

 

In my career, I was inspired by world feminist leaders such as Wangari Mathai, Mim Kelber and Charlotte Bunch with whom I had the opportunity to work with at the UN, respectively on sustainable development, women’s participation in decision making and the creation of UNWomen.”

Panama

Meet Stefania Minniti, the Regional Campaigns Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean who is based in Panama:

“My mother and sisters, always encourage me to reach my dreams.

As part of my work, we open space with governments, where children and adolescents as campaigners, can be heard and advocate for their rights, gender equality, better investment.”

Stefania’s message for girls around the world: “You are so  powerful, take action and follow your dreams!”

India

Meet Pragya Vats, the Campaign Manager at Save the Children India:

“Being the elder of the two girls in the family, I owe a huge gratitude to my mother who brought us to be the independent women we are today. Having grown up seeing a working mother, we knew early on that economic independence is an integral part of the independence and freedom in real sense of term.

No one else, but women and girls themselves have to be in the forefront of the change they want. No one else will or can. Because all you have got is YOU.”

Colombia

Meet Dora Inés Castro Arango from Save the Children Colombia:

“Do not let anyone tell you your dreams can not come true. Study, travel, do not feel judged if you don’t accept traditional roles, fight to achieve your goals, and never allow the patriarchal violence take away your life.”