Celebrating International Women's Day

March 8th - International Women's Day is celebrated in over 100 countries. Dating back to 1907 the first official International Women's Day took place in New York City on February 28th, 1909. Discover more on the history of International Women's Day, events, and travel.

©United Nations

International Women's Day 2017

History

The first official International Women's Day took place in New York City on February 28th, 1909. Thousands of people attended events held in the suffragette and socialist movements.

This year the United Nations 2017 theme is “Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030”.

©United Nations

Empowering Quotes

Quotes by women for women bring us together for this year's International Women's Day, with the strong campaign Be Bold For Change.

On March 8 every year, International Women's Day is celebrated.

Events

This year around the world, there is a number of events taking place for the campaign Be Bold For Change. Join the masses or call on yourself to help forge a better working world - a more gender-inclusive world.

The Real Mary King’s Close is celebrating 2017 Scotland YOHHA and International Women’s Day on March 8th with a special tour telling tales of woe, wonder, and legacy of the women who lived, worked, and died on the closes. Hear about the tales of women from all walks of life who left their mark on Edinburgh’s incredible past.

Will you Be Bold For Change on International Women's Day 2017 and beyond by taking groundbreaking action that truly drives the greatest change for women?

©International Women's Day

Responsible Travel

RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL LAUNCHES NEW COLLECTION CELEBRATING FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS

Online travel company and responsible tourism pioneer, Responsible Travel, has today announced a new collection of holidays on its site, all run by small local tour operators owned by women.

From trekking trips in the Indian Himalayas to cultural tours in Ghana, each of the holidays included in this collection is a celebration of female entrepreneurship against the odds, with stories to inspire on International Women’s Day on 8th March 2017.

The newly released travel guide that accompanies the collection Responsible Travel summarises some of the challenges faced by female entrepreneurs in developing countries: “In struggling nations, it is invariably the women who struggle most, as any semblance of equality falls away. Women and girls are disadvantaged from the outset by a lack of access to education, scant maternity benefits, cultural expectations about the woman’s role in the home, and inherent gender bias in the workplace.”

One of the women interviewed by Responsible Travel in the guide is Samrawit Moges, the founder and Managing Director of Travel Ethiopia, the first tour operator in Ethiopia to employ permanent female guides. She says “If you educate a woman if a woman is empowered economically, it’s not only for her - it goes for her children, her siblings. She will want the children to go to school for higher education, rather than getting married at an earlier stage. So it is changing society.”

Justin Francis, CEO of Responsible Travel comments on the new collection; “Tourism has the potential to be a superpower for women in developing countries. With such a broad geographical reach, and a huge range of skills required, tourism has the opportunity to pull women out of poverty, equip them with skills, and provide dignified, sustainable employment.

“We hope this new collection of holidays, and the stories of how the women behind them have overcome prejudice and obstacles to successfully run their own businesses, will serve to inspire generations of girls around the world.”

Included in the collection is a 19-day cultural tour to Ghana celebrating the culture of some of the countries' varied ethnic groups, with a focus on traditional festivals, handicrafts, and Ghanaian hospitality. Costs from £3,185pp excluding flights.

View the full holiday collection at: http://www.responsibletravel.com/holidays/women-owned-locally-run

Learning to cook - Image credit ©Vicki Brown

Kaya Responsible Travel

Empower Women On A Sustainable Agriculture Initiative in Nepal

This project needs some extra pairs of hands to help the women who live here create a sustainable future for themselves at their community farm - what a great way to Be Bold For Change

Travel and spend time in a rural community and help empower women on a sustainable agriculture initiative in Nepal. The project provides them with the ability to support themselves and their children. Nepal is a rural, agrarian society with 85% of the population residing in small villages and working on family farms. However, for many women, the reality is very difficult. Domestic abuse levels are remarkably high and the leading cause of death in women of childbearing age is suicide. Widows are excluded from their communities and tarnished as witches. This project provides these vulnerable women with shelter and land so that they are able to build a future.

The project operates a women’s farm cooperative in rural Nepal, located only 35km from the capital city of Kathmandu. The women are given a plot of land and a roof over their heads. In turn, they dig the land and grow organic fruit and vegetables putting their farming skills to good use. This empowers the women as they are able to feed themselves and their children, giving them their pride back. Volunteer in this agriculture and building placement and help the women in this rural community create sustainable futures for themselves and their families.

Panauti, Nepal ©MDHarding

Rickshaw Travel

Stay at home with the locals, lend a hand with village life, and learn how to whip up traditional Nepalese dumplings in the kitchen. This is a really authentic Nepalese experience, giving you a firsthand glimpse of Himalayan hospitality. Part of a community project, it’s a way to travel with meaning.

This homestay programme is part of a Nepali community project in which local women open up their homes to visitors. Not only does this allow tourists to learn more about the Nepali psyche and gain a better understanding of the local customs, but also provides these women with a much-needed source of income. All the Home Stays are run by the local women for the local women; an initiative to empower all the women of the town.

Making Chapatis, Panauti Community Home Stay, Nepal ©MDHarding

I hope you enjoyed reading and feel empowered, inspired, and bold. How will you 'Be Bold For Change'? x