The voices of women are powerful.

03 Mar, 2021

Contained within each voice is a life, a story, a journey and a hope for the future.

On International Women’s Day we want to encourage, champion, and celebrate women all across the world. We recognise and honour the stories of incredible women living courageously in the face of significant challenge.

We come together to amplify their voices.

We stop to listen. To reflect. To hear. To act.

At Compassion, we think it’s a good day to restore hope and dignity to women living in the grasp of poverty. Today, we are choosing to challenge poverty and the detrimental effects it has on women by coming together to champion those living in the most vulnerable situations.

Girls are especially affected by poor sanitation. Without access to clean, private toilets and water, particularly during their monthly periods, millions of girls around the world are forced to stay home, missing school and falling behind their peers.

This does not need to be the case.

Our Goal

Together we have raised over $28,000 for women in Bolivia!

We don’t want to end here- let's continue to stop, listen and act. Together we are making a difference.

In the Philippines, many families do not have access to safely managed sanitation services and lack properly functioning toilet facilities. Given the increasing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the impoverished world, without adequate facilities to maintain their hygiene, the health of these families will be at risk as they become more susceptible to waterborne diseases.

We can be a part of the solution.

This International Women’s Day, we want to keep making a difference by raising an additional $32,200 to make a significant impact on the lives of women in the Philippines. The funds will go towards building and renovating 12 toilet blocks and hand washing stations in the communities of Panay, Cebu and Negros.

Let’s keep creating change. Restoring hope and dignity!

Read more about the project in the Philippines and the impact it will have on the community.

**Disclaimer: funds were updated as of 4 March 2021 and our Bolivia goal has been reached. A new goal has been set to fund the building of toilet blocks in the Philippines. *

THE BOLVIA PROJECT, WE FUNDED TOGETHER:

Read more about the project in Bolivia and why it’s so vital to the community.

How to speak up for women on IWD

We want to empower you to amplify the voices of women across the world on International Women’s Day. Here are a few ways you can lend your voice to Compassion:

Give

Together we will make a significant impact for women. Simply click on the link below to give to women in Bolivia and the Philippines.

DONATE NOW

Be a Social Champion

Share the stories of the inspiring women we’ve featured across the week and inspire others to get behind the initiative. Make sure you tag @compassionAU and encourage your friends to share with the hashtag #compassionIWD

You can also download these resources to feature on your personal social media account and encourage others to lend their voice to support women. Remember to tag @compassionAU and use the hashtag #compassionIWD

DOWNLOAD NOW

Compassion Conversations – female CEO edition!

Be a part of this significant conversation between the amazing female CEOs of Compassion!

Clare Steele, CEO of Compassion Australia, and Allison Alley, President and CEO of Compassion Canada have a candid conversation about the impact of Compassion’s work with women around the world and their hope for what the future holds.

On Monday, 8 March at [11am AEST] Compassion Australia CEO, Clare Steele, and President and CEO of Compassion Canada, Allison Alley, will be having a candid conversation about poverty and the challenges as a woman in leadership.

Invite your work colleagues and community to follow our Facebook page to be a part of this event.

Host a Gathering

Organise a gathering, either in-person or online, with your leading ladies and invite them to help support women in poverty. Please check your local government restrictions for gathering in your area.

The theme of International Women’s Day 2021 is Choose to Challenge. A challenged world is an alert world, and we can all choose to challenge inequality and seek to celebrate women and their achievements in our world.

Check out the IWD page for helpful tips and ideas for your gathering.

Find out more about this year's theme on the IWD website.

Please refer to your state government’s guidelines for a COVID-safe gathering.

The Inspiring Story of Eskedar

Meet Eskedar, a community leader and activist who has been challenging societal norms in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

In 2013, Eskedar tragically lost her husband to HIV after a long fight with the illness. Her son Eyasu was registered with the Compassion program in their village and Eskedar says they were so thankful for the immediate support they received with funeral arrangements, food and rebuilding their deteriorating house.

However, Eskedar’s life was about to take another turn. After getting tested herself, Eskedar found that she too was HIV positive.

Unable to continue her business baking and selling injera (a local bread) due to the stigma that surrounded her diagnosis, Eskedar turned to Compassion’s small scale business training program. With the help of the program and everything she learned, Eskedar started her own business and began to provide for her family. She says the training taught her how to manage her finances, to save and plan for the future.

Eskedar didn’t stop there. Her desire to make her life count and help others in her community led her to gather women and teach them about HIV/Aids: the symptoms, the causes and how to prevent getting the virus. She also teaches them the importance of recycling waste as part of a community cleaning project that ensures their neighbourhood is clean and sanitary. Eskedar’s significant work within her community was recognised by the Ethiopian Minister for Women and Children who honoured Esekdar with a national award.

“I would like to thank the people who are supporting us, who are supporting my child and who are supporting people living in poverty all over the country. I would like to thank them and bless them.”

DONATE NOW

Thank you for making a difference in the lives of women today!