Celebrate the power of women on International Women's Day!

Every year, on 8 March, the world gets a little pinker. This is because of International Women's Day; a day dedicated to celebrating women's achievements and pushing for greater equality. Let's look back to 1908, where this day originated many years ago and thousands of women stood up for their rights. In 1909, just one year later, the first Women's Day in America was a reality. After which several countries followed America in 1911.

On this International Women's Day, we still celebrate the tremendous economic, political, and social progress women have made all over the world. It is a day to reflect extra on the strides we have made to reduce inequality, although there is still much work to do, even in 2024.

To celebrate the day, this year's theme is 'One world, a thousand women'. The theme points out differences and similarities between women from the Netherlands but also from different cultures. This allows women to inspire each other but also to learn from each other!

A Piece of History

Before we delve into what we do about this day, let's rewind to the early 20th century. International Women's Day has its origins in the struggle for women's rights, voting rights, and equal working conditions. It all started in New York, during an uprising by 15,000 textile workers against poor working conditions and gender inequalities. Today, it is a global day of recognition and action. In several countries, they are marking this recognized day. In Italy, women receive a bunch of mimosas, in Argentina there is a big march and several rallies every year, and in Armenia, women are highlighted by men and boys by donating a small bunch of flowers. Did you know that at The Good Roll, 52% of employees are women? Now that's women's emancipation!

Rolling towards Women's Empowerment

Our passion for toilet paper is no secret. But behind every roll is a story of impact. We invest in building sanitation facilities in schools and communities in Ghana, giving women and girls access to basic needs. This is crucial; without these facilities, girls miss school during their periods, leading to disadvantages. Our role? To break that cycle.

Clean toilets and access to safe water seem obvious, but unfortunately, this is not the case for many people, especially girls and women. The lack of decent toilet facilities in schools can make girls afraid to go to school during their periods, limiting their educational opportunities and reinforcing social stigma. In addition, many girls have to travel long distances to fetch clean water, which not only disrupts their education but also exposes them to safety risks.

Together with women and girls in Ghana, we are committed to improving this situation. At The Good Roll, we break taboos around menstruation and hygiene through education and collaboration with partners.

Besides building toilets and water facilities, we also work on maintenance, education and create jobs in local communities. We believe in lasting change and focus our projects specifically on the needs of women, actively involving them every step of the way.

At The Good Roll, we strongly believe in equality and the empowerment of women's rights, which is why we celebrate International Women's Day today! For us, this day is an important reminder of the ongoing struggle for gender equality and the enormous contributions women are making worldwide.

As an organization committed to social justice and sustainable development, we recognize the important role women play in creating positive change in their communities. By supporting women, valuing them and striving for equal opportunities for all, we contribute to a more just and inclusive world.

International Women's Day is a time for us to reflect on the progress we have made towards equality, but also to remain aware of the challenges women still face, both locally and globally.

Head of foundation, Eleasha Ankomah

Today, we would like to give the floor to our Head of Foundation, Eleasha Ankohma, to highlight The Good Roll's contribution to women's empowerment. Eleasha will soon leave for Ghana herself to support the foundation there and measure our impact. Because Eleasha is going to Ghana in person, she will be able to better connect with the schools and community. She will also support building toilets and initiate new projects!

Eleasha has an important role in our team, which is why we would like to introduce her to you. Last week, we had a conversation with Eleasha. Read the interview below!

Eleasha, what does Women's Day mean to you?

Eleasha: "I believe this is a time when women come together, regardless of our differences, to honour each other for being women. Often, as women, you are told from all sides who you should be, what you should do, and what you can and cannot do. But on International Women's Day, we come together to honour the women who have fought to be themselves, to have their voices heard.

This day is special to me because often you are only honoured if you have achieved something, done something inspiring, or if you are truly somebody. But on this day, I am appreciated purely for who I am: a woman, and I am definitely proud of that."

Can you tell us more about the impact of lack of sanitation on women in developing countries?

Eleasha: "The lack of decent toilet facilities in schools can make women and girls afraid to go to school, due to, for example, their menstruation, but also their privacy being restricted and reinforcement of social stigmas. We want to get rid of this problem and through the ongoing projects, we are getting one step closer each time!"

Are there any new projects planned related to women's livelihoods that The Good Roll is currently working on or considering starting?

Eleasha: "This year, we aim to further expand our impact by taking on different types of development projects. In previous years, we have already collaborated with 'Days for Girls', Nalú and other partners for various projects. Our goal this year is to make this impact on an even larger scale."

It is super important for us as The Good Roll to reflect on International Women's Day. This day reminds us that we still need to fight for equal opportunities and rights for women all over the world. By celebrating this day, we show that we are on their side and that we want women everywhere to be able to schi(j)t.

We want to break taboos and take concrete actions to create a world where women can truly thrive. So let's celebrate this day together and keep working towards a world where women are recognized, everywhere in the world!

Happy International Women's Day! 💪🌸