Every year, 08 March marks International Women's Day. This day celebrates the accomplishments of women and the important contributions made social, economic, cultural, and political. It also highlights women's rights movements, and put focus on important issues like gender equality, reproductive rights, violence, and abuse against women.

This year, the Guerbet South Africa team celebrated International Women's Day together with the Frida Hartley Shelter (FHS) under the theme #EmbraceEquity.
 
Frida Hartley Shelter was started in 1922, and initially catered for single mothers who suffered cultural stigma due to views at the time around unmarried pregnancies. It was entered into the registry in December 2001 as a non-profit organisation with the sole purpose of providing a safe haven where inner-city homeless women and children that endured neglect, abuse and trauma can be rehabilitated.
 
Their aim is to empower women through providing accommodation, psycho-social support, employment opportunities, and training to upskill themselves. The purpose is to ensure that the ladies regain their human dignity and self-worth during their stay. They accommodate mothers together with their children, thereby keeping the family together as a unit. They also provide nutrition and childcare while mothers get back on their feet.
 
For this important day, Guerbet South Africa’s aim is to contribute towards building a community where women of all races can communicate and continue to support and take care of each other. An environment that gives women a space to feel their own strength and tell their stories. A space where women can be empowered.
 
As a community we must continue to acknowledge and honour women’s contributions in societies, this motivates and inspire young girls to aspire to live meaningful lives, to have hope and for them to step into their greatness.
 
What a better way to spend such an important day than with an organisation that has been on the forefront, fighting for and protecting women’s rights for over 100 years!