Friday, March 8th was International Women’s Day. I started the day intending to focus and celebrate women from all over the world in a meaningful way. For a tabling event on campus, I had prepared a trivia wheel, featuring influential women from around the world and I had designed empowering door knockers for the occasion.
I was glad to begin my day by hearing on a morning news program a few important statistics about how important it is for mankind to focus on educating and supporting women. For example, when women earn an income, 90% of the money is invested in their family’s welfare versus only 30% of the income men earn. I learned that 98 cents of every dollar invested in businesses run by women is used to generate greater revenue versus only 47 cents on the dollar by men running businesses.
I’ve long supported international women’s education by donating monthly to Women for Women International an organization that provides marginalized women with the resources they need to elevate themselves and their families. Educating women is key to lifting families out of poverty. I am proud that I paid the tuition from junior high through high school of twins Adama and Awa whom I met on a trip to the Gambia in 2008. Since then, the twins have gone on to college in China on full scholarships. Because of how empowering the Boys and Girls Club was in my personal life as a child, two years ago, I added the Boys and Girls Club of America to my automatic monthly giving routine. I decided to help where I know there is a great need, so I chose my hometown, Detroit, Michigan to receive my monthly donations, even though the one I frequented was in Los Angeles. And then this morning, I added FINCA International, a microfinance non-profit that helps impoverished women build businesses to my list monthly support list before going to work.
On campus, the student group, Her Campus, put together the tabling event I mentioned for their annual International Women’s Day Fair. There were many creative tables hosted by campus clubs and offices, including my own. It was a pleasure to visit each of the tables honoring women, providing “girl power” encouragement or highlighting women’s issues such as labor and sex trafficking. The campus community, both males and females, were actively engaged in the process of educating and learning and trying to make a difference in the lives of women around the world.
Friday was one of those rare days, when I could go to bed and say to myself, “Mission accomplished”. It was definitely the most impactful International Women’s Day that I can recall and I hope individuals find the most suitable way to encourage and empower women, or like me, just take one more step toward upping the contribution. When we educate and empower women, we change the world for good.
As I learn more about the women who are now the face of our US Congress, I find more to be proud of. Fresh minds, fresh eyes ~ I am hopeful that their learning curve & the “old boy network” will not deter them from new & welcome change they represent. Early missteps aside, as they settle in, I look to accomplishments, solid strength, not because they are women, but in spite of it. Women are nurturers, teachers, the backbone of each new generation. Let their value be not a novelty but vision of hope for all of us. For women around the world, I pray for education, health care & strength of empowerment. Each enlightened day at a time. Change is good.