Women’s Month: Let’s Empower One Another

March is Women’s Month, the annually observed time when we celebrate women’s contributions throughout history. The actual celebration of Women’s History Month grew out of a weeklong celebration of women’s contributions to culture, history, and society, organized by a school district in Sonoma, California, in 1978. Presentations were given at dozens of schools, hundreds of students participated in a “Real Woman” essay contest, and a parade was held in downtown Santa Rosa. A few years later the idea caught on in other communities and in 1980 US President Jimmy Carter declared Mar 8 as National Women’s History Week.

Each year all around the world people have been celebrating women’s strength and contributions to society. Annoyingly, over the years some have turned Women’s Day into a marketing gimmick with bars pushing buy-one-get-one-free pink cocktails and shops promoting Women’s Day discounts. What message is that sending? Thanks for your contribution to society, here are some discounts because all women like cheap pink cocktails and shopping…? Um… pass!

In the past, I’ve worked for companies where HR left a rose on our desks on Women’s Day. Thanks for the sweet thought HR, but I’d much rather have equal pay and a work environment without sexist comments or harassment instead. But the flower is a nice touch…

This year, before I get annoyed by the sexist Women’s Day promos around town, there’s one that I can really get behind. Something that’s sending the right message.

Mommy & Me dance fitness, women’s self-defense, women’s strength, and Jindafit. Three She-EOs have organized four fitness workshops where all the money raised goes to help a good cause, Educating Girls of Rural China (EGRC).

Their mission is to empower women in rural regions of western China to escape the cycle of poverty through education. EGRC has three primary goals: Sponsor female students from rural regions with their four-year undergraduate studies in Chinese universities; sponsor female high school (grade 10 to 12) students with their three-year studies in rural region high schools; and assist EGRC-sponsored students with BA diplomas to enroll in postgraduate programs offered by Canadian universities. EGRC’s girls have a 100 percent graduation rate, with two of their top graduates having gone on to Tsinghua University and Manitoba University in Canada.

To book any of the fitness workshops, scan the QR code on the poster and speak directly with a bilingual reservation person from Warrior One who’ll help you book your spot for the workshop. To learn more about EGRC visit their website at www.egrc.ca.

This blog was originally published on our sister site, Jingkids International.

READ: WildChina, Roots & Shoots Empower Young Women To Travel for Sustainability

Images: Pexels, courtesy of the organizer