Join us in celebrating International Women’s Day under this year’s theme, “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”
Central to this vision is empowering the next generation—youth, particularly young women and adolescent girls—as catalysts for lasting change.
Test your knowledge with our International Women's Day quiz
Inspiring stories of women
Five things women achieved this year that you might not know about
This International Women's Day, join us in celebrating the resilience of women across the globe with some female achievements you might not have heard about.
Reflections of 30 years: My time as a teacher trainer in Nepal 1985
Meet Anna Robinson, a British woman who volunteered as a VSO teacher trainer in Nepal in 1985. 30 years on from first arriving on placement, Anna has returned to Nepal. In this blog Anna shared her highlights and learnings from her experience.
Empowering change: The role of female leadership in advancing women's rights
Growing up in the heart of Madesh Province in Nepal, Aarati Patel witnessed first-hand the harsh realities that many women and girls in my community face daily. Hear how she's supporting girls in Nepal to find their voice and create a world where every girl has the freedom to choose her own path.
Two volunteers who are tackling food insecurity in Malawi
Climate shocks, including droughts, floods, and storms, adversely affect livelihoods and food security in Malawi. Two formidable volunteers are helping to address the challenges of food security through sustainable farming methods.
Breaking barriers: Lamia journey of volunteering, leadership, and gender equity
Lamia Tasnim's volunteering journey began in 2018, and over the course of the last six years, her passion for supporting her community has only grown.
The women turning waste into wages on Kenya’s dumpsites
In Nairobi, Kenya, waste pickers are working every day, cleaning up their communities by picking waste and taking it to recycling centres. Women waste pickers, like Vanessa, earn little for their essential work, and face abuse from residents who see their jobs as ‘dirty'.
This International Women’s Day VSO pledges to
Advance women’s and girls’ rights
Fight relentlessly for women’s and girls’ full range of human rights, challenging all forms of violence, discrimination, and exploitation.
Promote gender equality
Address systemic barriers, dismantle patriarchy, transform entrenched inequities, and elevate the voices of marginalised women and girls, including young people, to ensure inclusivity and empowerment.
Foster empowerment
Redefine power structures by ensuring inclusive access to education, employment, leadership, and decision-making spaces. Prioritise opportunities for young women and girls to lead and innovate.
Using our current strategy (2022-28) VSO has
Broadened the horizons of 4.2 million children, with over half being girls, through the Building Learning Foundations project in Rwanda.
Supported over 2,500 girls in Nepal to access an inclusive education through engaging with the government and schools.
Helped 650 women in Mozambique to access capital to set up their own businesses, fostering financial independence and resilience.
Enhancing women's rights and access to healthcare
The impact of climate change on sexual and reproductive health and rights
As communities worldwide grapple with the challenges posed by environmental changes, health systems must adapt to ensure inclusivity, equity, and resilience in healthcare delivery.
Breaking barriers: Transforming social norms to empower adolescent girls in Nepal
Sexual and reproductive health is not just about physical well-being; it’s about dignity, autonomy, and the right to shape one’s future. In Nepal, the pressure for young girls to conform to traditional roles remains present, but how can programme design challenge these norms?
Tackling sexual health stigma for Rwanda's young mothers
In Rwanda, 2023 saw over 22,000 teenage pregnancies nationwide, alongside a concerning rise in HIV/AIDS cases among young people. VSO's Safe Space is a community gathering platform, where young people from neighbouring villages meet on a weekly basis.
