Celebrate these women leaders on International Women’s Day ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌







Today is International Women’s Day, friends.

We are celebrating the extraordinary resilience and impact women are making for their families, communities, and all humankind. Every day, courageous women across the globe are breaking barriers for better opportunities, raising and protecting their families, and contributing to their communities in countless ways.

But we must also remember that women typically bear the greatest burden during a crisis — violent conflict, hunger, poverty, and displacement — while doing everything possible to keep their families together and safe.

For example, do you know what proportion of people facing extreme hunger are women? Click here to find out — and learn how you can help.
See the answer ▸
As you honor the women in your life today, we invite you to get to know a few of the trailblazing, hardworking, and caring women we have worked with at Mercy Corps in communities across the globe.
Josefina, Guatemala
     
In Guatemala, the husband typically takes care of everything in the house, from earning a wage to spending money, This makes it difficult for married women to advocate for their needs,

That was the case for Josefina, a 47-year-old mother to four children, who once had to rely on her husband for everything. Through Mercy Corps’ programs, Josefina learned to manage a business and farm the land.
 
Today, Josefina is the president of a women’s group of 21 who receive business training as well as resources to improve their livelihoods. Five of those women are also in charge of a purification plant in their community. Josefina is also part of a cooperative of 400 agricultural workers and farmers. She is an inspiration for her daughters and all the women in her community.
Florine, Kenya
     
Due to cultural expectations, Florine is one of a few women in this region of Kenya working in the technological field. In her role as Geospatial Advisor for Mercy Corps, she uses scientific data and geospatial technology to help the government address the challenges of recent abnormal weather patterns.

Through her expertise and Mercy Corps’ program, she brings pastoral communities and government officials together to better manage natural resources

Florine is passionate about using technology to help her fellow Kenyans - and proud to be a role model for women in her region.
 
Piva, Indonesia
     
"...If something happens in the community, it’s all of us who suffer. We’re all connected," said Piva, Mercy Corps Regional Standards Advisor for Asia. Piva has been on the Mercy Corps team in Indonesia since 2004, when she was an emergency response intern, learning what it means to support communities on the long road to recovery.

During her time at Mercy Corps, she has worn many hats: From securing resources for women in our programs to helping communities increase resilience to extreme weather events. She’s also worked with colleagues from Jordan and Vanuatu to Nigeria and Zimbabwe.

"My family has experienced disasters like earthquakes and floods as well," said Piva. "We’re a part of the community, so many of us were survivors of emergencies. My time at Mercy Corps has taught me that we can’t do this alone."
 
These are just three of the millions of inspiring women who are making a lasting impact in their communities and deserve to be honored and celebrated.

Thanks for taking the time to read their stories. We wish you a wonderful International Women’s Day.

Sincerely,

— The Mercy Corps team