International Women’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to recognise, celebrate, pray for and stand in solidarity with women around the world.
On this day, we especially remember those women and girls in developing countries who carry the heavy burden of poverty and injustice. We remember those girls who are not encouraged to go to school, the women who have never learnt to read or sign their name, and the mothers who give birth without support or care.
We also celebrate and give thanks for the work of our partners, who are walking alongside women to support, equip and empower them to reach their God-given potential.
Women make up the majority of those facing poverty and injustice around the world. TEAR’s partners are working to address them hand-in-hand with the communities they are walking alongside. These include areas like education, adult literacy and maternal and child health.
Take some time to read about the many challenges faced by mothers in Somalia like Iqro.
Iqro spent her early years of motherhood watching her three children battle life-threatening malnutrition and diarrhoea. But through the support of TEAR’s partner, she has connected with a new community of support – and her fourth child is healthy and thriving. She is now teaching other mothers in her community what she has learnt.
Read moreThis week, will you take some time to pray specifically for women and girls around the world who are facing injustice, poverty, hardship, violence, abuse and/or exploitation. Lord, you know these women’s situations and we pray you would be a source of comfort and liberation for them.
We know that this is not what God intended for the world and that we, as Christians, are called to respond to this injustice.
Pray for leaders and policy makers across the world, that they would play their part to promote justice and equality, especially where this may be a minority view.
And give thanks for the many people, including TEAR’s faithful partners, who are working to address poverty and injustice and empower women to live full and fruitful lives.
You may like to follow this beautiful ‘Franciscan Prayer for International Womens Day’.
Donate your time or money to support projects that specifically work to empower women and girls.
You can do this by becoming a monthly giver to TEAR’s work, or donating to a specific project. Or you can also buy a TEAR Useful Gift card like Maternal and Child Health, Adult Literacy or Women’s Community Group.
You may also like to get creative and run your own fundraiser! Ideas could include a clothes swap, morning or afternoon tea, ‘craft-’ernoon, movie night, run or walk - or a bake stall. It could be a fun way of gathering others and learning more about issues facing women, while raising funds.
