International Women’s Day: A Tribute to Women and Girls

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Today is one of my favorite days of the year. It is International Women’s Day, a day around the world to honor women and girls and to look at the progress that has been made and the work that remains to be done. For those who have followed my blog for a while, you know that the rights of women and girls lies near and dear to my heart. I’ve witnessed the inequities and injustice firsthand throughout my travels around the world.

Women and girls are more likely to be poor, unable to go to school, be married young and not have the same opportunities as boys and men. Women still die during childbirth at alarming rates, and are being victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and human trafficking even here in the United States. The list of tragedies goes on and on.

However, the exciting news is this reality is rapidly changing. More women and girls are being empowered with education, training, and access to healthcare, mobile money, micro financing and the internet. The future is looking much brighter for women and girls than it did just a decade ago. So instead of dwelling on the bad things, I want to honor the good things that are happening by highlighting a few of my favorite women and girls I’ve met along the way.

Bolivia

Woman in La Paz Bolivia

Eugenia, our cook, inside the “kitchen” tent gives us a big smile.

Ethiopia

Children in Mosebo Village 42 k away from Bahir Dar in Ethiopia.

Midwives in training

Mother.

Weaver at work.

Inside we meet a mother and her expectant daughter. They walked two hours on foot to reach the Lie and Wait house. Her mother delivered all 8 children at home with no help.

Tanzania

I couldn’t resist getting my picture taken with these lovely girls.

Me and Mary learning how to make Maasai jewelry that she can sell to earn a profit.

Haiti

Our group, #Bloggers4Haiti

Cuba

Lovely smiling sisters.

The abeulas of Cuba

Guatemala

Maria. Guatemala.

Costa Rica

Xiña leads the way with her walking stick ready.

Inside Zulay’s house

Xiña and her sister who lives in Puerto Jimenez and will be our cook for the next day.

Honduras

The girls in Honduras where I volunteered.

India

Smiling and hopeful Indian girls within a Delhi slum

I will forever be grateful for the amazing women and girls I’ve met along the way that have inspired me to do more and fight for them.

Want to learn more about International Women’s Day and what is happening? Follow the hashtag #BeBoldForChange or #IWD2017 online. 

21 thoughts on “International Women’s Day: A Tribute to Women and Girls”

    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Yes indeed Sally! Thanks as always for your amazing support! 🙂

      Reply ↓
  2. Hanna – "Are you aware that you have got the key to a kingdom. The love you have for nature is priceless." She was right, the lady at the cabin in Norway. My joy is great when I'm on a walk. I would like to share that joy with you. My name is Hanna, and I live north of Copenhagen, Denmark. My walks are mainly in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Get inspired. There are more keys out there. Let me know if you have questions concerning my walks.
    Hanna on said:

    Very life affirming! A beautiful post <3

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thank you Hanna!

      Reply ↓
  3. Alison and Don – Occupation: being/living/experiencing/travelling. In our sixties, with apparently no other authentic option, my husband Don and I sold our apartment and car, sold or gave away all our stuff and set off to discover the world. And ourselves. We started in Italy in 2011 and from there have travelled to Spain, India, Bali, Australia, New Zealand, SE Asia, South America, Egypt, Japan, etc. - you can see the blog archive. We travelled full-time for nearly six years, and then re-established a home in Vancouver. We now travel 2-3 months per year. We are interested in how the world works, how life works, how the creation of experience works, how the mind works. As we travel and both "choose" our course, and at the same time just let it unfold, we discover the "mechanics" of life, the astounding creativity of life, and a continual need to return to trust and presence. Opening the heart, and acceptance of what is, as it is, are keystones for us both. Interests: In no particular order: travel, photography, figure skating (as a fan), acceptance, authenticity, walking/hiking, joy, creativity, being human, adventure, presence, NOW. Same for Don except replace figure skating with Formula One motor racing.
    Alison and Don on said:

    You have some wonderful photos Nicole, and this is a beautiful tribute to the women of the world.
    Alison

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks so much Alison! 🙂

      Reply ↓
  4. Gabe Burkhardt – Howdy! I’m Gabe. I am a… Househusband? Digital Nomad? Professional bucket-lister? I guess so, maybe. I’m currently in Bucharest, Romania and not having any luck with my part-time quest to hunt down the elusive herds of vampires that supposedly originated here (I’m convinced HBO has hired and moved them all to Louisiana to handle the stunt scenes for True Blood). Time for a more realistic goal. Like blogging about hiking and depression and being a househusband. If you’re still hungry, you can find additional digital sketches and pebbles of wisdom at www.almostunsalvageable.com.
    Gabe Burkhardt on said:

    IWD is one one my new favorite days as well!

    These photos are stunning. Would you mind if I tried to sketch the photo titled “Mother?” I can’t stop staring at it. (If I create something decent, I’ll be happy to share it and include a link back here so others can enjoy the real thing)

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      That would be fantastic! Thanks!

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Debbie! Hope you are doing well! 🙂

      Reply ↓
  6. Tina Schell – I am passionate about photography, love traveling and exploring new places and faces, and seeing the world from different perspectives. My lens is always on the lookout for something beautiful or interesting.
    Tina Schell on said:

    Wonderful portraits Nicole, but my fav is the capture of you with Mary 😊. Keep up the great work.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Tina!

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thank you Andrew! 🙂

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thank you for reading and stopping by!

      Reply ↓

  9. Pingback: International Women’s Day – a tribute to women and girls repost | Warm Witty Words

  10. Charlotte Graham – Writer/ explorer/ feminist/ hippy/ history/ travel/ nature/ urbexing/ architecture/ wildlife This is a blog to record my adventures in the wild. I enjoy exploring new areas, the urban decay of cities or the natural beauty of the countryside. My posts are full of the unusual, hidden, absurd or wild aspects of places. I also love photographing beautiful landscapes so this blog will surely be peppered with my own photos. I hope you can enjoy reading about my adventures and be inspired to have your own wild days! Check out my other published articles and follow me on social media to get more updates on my adventures.
    Charlotte Graham on said:

    This is amazing, really beautiful photos!

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      So glad you enjoyed the post!

      Reply ↓
  11. The Heart Advocate – Pittsburgh, PA – Ta'lor L. Pinkston "The Heart Advocate" can help you treat your mental health with the medicine of self-love and choose self-love as a coping skill. The Heart Advocate facilitates workshops and presentations on a variety of self-love topics, provides one-on-one Self-love Sessions and Programs, and manages Healing Over Everything (H.O.E.), a support group and virtual safe-space for anyone 18+. The Heart Advocate takes self-love with her everywhere she goes by speaking across Pittsburgh, PA and beyond and on social media about defying beauty standards, self-hate, fear, self-doubt, and the Inner Bullies. The Heart Advocate seeks to eliminate the stigma around mental health treatment and normalize the value of self-love in mental health by sharing her own story and advocating with intention for black individuals, black women and black mothers at the center of her mission, vision, and equity statement.
    Pinkspen on said:

    Beautiful!!!!!

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thank you!

      Reply ↓

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