Women empowerment has a huge impact on poverty rates and sustainable development. A woman earning a promotion or landing an interview can change the lives of her family for generations.
Empowering and protecting women leads to peace and prosperity for all. Here are some ways you can get involved.
1. Be Your Own Best Friend
Countless studies reveal that quality friendships are key to happiness. But a key ingredient to having a best friend is loving yourself unconditionally. That means loving the things you do and don’t do, giving yourself grace when you make mistakes, and treating yourself to the things you love – like a warm bath with candles and a good book.
Being your own best friend takes time and practice, just like building friendships. But once you learn to love yourself and trust yourself consistently, it’s a lasting gift that no one can take away from you.
At FINCA, we believe women’s empowerment is crucial to poverty alleviation. That’s why we invest in economic empowerment programs for women, including micro-finance and business development support, training, education and more. By strengthening and supporting women’s ability to make decisions about their families, they can be better equipped to provide for themselves, educate their children, and improve their communities. This creates a ripple effect that benefits everyone.
2. Be Your Own Best Advocate
Women need to be able to advocate for themselves—to understand the impact their actions have on others, and to state their own needs. This 2012 PACER Center Action Information Sheet explains how to advocate for yourself and lists helpful resources.
The pillars of empowerment include a woman’s sense of autonomy and control, access to opportunities and resources, her ability to participate in decision-making, and her level of economic independence. Women’s empowerment is often linked to broader societal goals, such as poverty reduction and gender equality.
For example, a woman’s capacity to participate in the economy can be enhanced through education—the most effective way of empowering a person to make informed choices about her own life and the lives of her family members. This is why it is critical that a holistic approach to poverty alleviation incorporates women’s empowerment strategies. When a woman is empowered, the impact extends beyond her personal life and benefits her entire community.
3. Be Your Own Best Therapist
Women can sometimes feel unfulfilled in their careers, friendships and even within their relationships. This lack of fulfilment can lead to a low self-esteem and even a depression. This is why it’s important for every woman to be her own best therapist. This can be done through meditation, journaling and self-love. It’s important to remember that you are enough and that it’s okay to be sad.
To help you get started on this journey of being your own best therapist, I have created the ebook “Be Your Own Therapist & Make Your Mind an Ocean” which is available for free to all LYWA Members in pdf, mobi and epub formats.
4. Be Your Own Best Friend
You’ve probably had many best friends in your lifetime, some you trusted with your secrets and some who were there for you in moments of crisis. Your most loyal and trustworthy friend, though, will always be you. Be your own best friend by learning to love yourself unconditionally. Encourage yourself to go after your dreams and support your efforts. Be honest with yourself and speak the truth in love (even if it hurts). Shush your Inner Mean Girl and extend grace when you make mistakes.
Investing in women’s empowerment is a direct path towards gender equality, poverty eradication and inclusive economic growth. By empowering women, nations, businesses and communities thrive and benefit from the health and economic productivity of all of their citizens. That’s why FINCA is committed to incorporating the concept of female empowerment into all that we do. Click here to learn more about how we do this.