International Women’s Day 2022: A brief history, and continuing the fight for women’s equality

Today, March 8, is International Women’s Day 2022, a day when millions come together to promote and reflect on the progress made by women around the world in achieving economic, political, educational and social equality.

Women have been fighting for equal rights for hundreds of years, but International Women’s Day itself was born in 1909. After a series of protest marches in support of voting rights and better working conditions,”National Women’s Day” was declared in America on Feb. 28, 1909. The idea of a day dedicated to the struggle for women’s equality quickly spread worldwide, and in 1914, the organizers of the women’s rights movement in the U.S. and Europe declared March 8 as International Women’s Day.

The women’s rights movement of the 1910s achieved enormous steps towards equality, most famously giving women the right to vote in numerous countries, including the United States in 1920. But it took until the next wave of activists, who emerged in the 1960s and 70s, for International Women’s Day to become a truly global event.

The United Nations observed the holiday for the first time in 1975, and asked all nations to set aside one day each year to honor the struggle for women’s equality: in the U.S., that’s March 8.

To this day, International Women’s Day remains a day of celebration, activism and awareness. Though the fight for equality has resulted in significant progress, it is by no means finished. Women are still not equally represented at the highest levels of political and societal leadership, and they still face a wage gap compared to men. And around the world, there is a significant inequality in education: far more young girls never step foot inside of a classroom than young boys, and those that do face significant barriers to learning.

Women’s education is one of the foundational elements of building a more equal society. Studies show that in developing areas of the world where women and girls receive higher levels of education, the results are an enormous positive for society: individuals see brighter prospects for social and economic advancement, while communities with high rates of educated girls are less prone to poverty, exploitation and violence.

In short: when a society empowers women with the knowledge and skills they need to achieve great things and lead productive lives, we all benefit.

Embrace Relief: Supporting education for women

At the Embrace Relief Foundation, we’ve taken this lesson to heart, and we’re asking you to help.

Our “R.I.S.E.” program – that stands for Reach. Inspire. Support. Educate. – provides support for women seeking either to further their education or to gain the skills they need for higher-level leadership positions.

Monetary donations to our R.I.S.E. program go directly to tuition, health insurance, books, transportation and meals for dozens of women in Tanzania who are currently studying to earn diplomas in education management and administration and school inspection.

Our current program provides 24 women with the financial tools they need to complete a two-year course and earn diplomas in Education Management and Administration (DEMA) and School Inspection (DSI).

This program aims to lift the burden of financial difficulties related to continuing education. Those that graduate with a degree in Educational Management will be empowered with the knowledge and skills they need to improve the education system and compete in a male-dominated labor market. Through increasing the number of quality assurers and education officers, our partnership works to improve the education conditions in Tanzania.

But we can’t do any of this without you.

So please, donate today. With every $100 donated to R.I.S.E., you are empowering one more woman to unleash her potential, making her life – and the world – better for it.