YSW marks International Women’s Day

In honor of International Women’s Day, Youth for a Sustainable World (YSW) mobilized young people across various regions to celebrate the power, resilience, and achievements of women and girls in their communities. With the 2025 theme “For All Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” YSW embraced the moment to spotlight local voices, amplify young women’s leadership, and promote gender equality through vibrant events.

Here’s a look at how the spirit of Women’s Day was brought to life by YSW teams across the country.

In West Pokot, partner youth organisations including Sikom, Masol Youth Elite, and Homeboys Youth Organization participated in the International Women’s Day celebrations on March 7, 2025, at St. Elizabeth High School in Murpus. The event brought together key stakeholders to celebrate women’s achievements and advocate for gender equality.

In her keynote speech, the First Lady Mrs. Scovia Kachapin, stressed the need to invest in women and girls for sustainable development while reaffirming the county’s commitment to policies that promote gender equality, protect women’s rights, and support economic empowerment.

She urged communities to abandon harmful practices such as FGM, child marriage, and gender-based violence, emphasizing that every girl deserves the right to education and a future free from oppression.

She also called on stakeholders to create safe spaces for women and girls, ensuring their voices are heard and their contributions are recognised in all areas of development.

“The power to create a better future for women and girls is not in the hands of a few—it is a responsibility we all share. We must be the generation that ends harmful traditions and replaces them with opportunities for growth and equality.” Scovia Kachapin, First Lady, West Pokot County.

The event was also a celebration of YSW’s 25- year journey in implementing programmes on SRHR, gender equality and youth empowerment.

“As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we also reflect on 25 years of impact and embark on a new chapter for YSW. We are committed to mobilising more resources to tackle gender issues in West Pokot, particularly the high cases of GBV,” said Ms Samba.

In Mombasa, SEYA, YSW’s partner youth organisation, held an interactive dialogue on X, reaching 150 young people with information on women’s rights, gender equality, and empowerment. This session provided a platform for young people to express their thoughts, challenge societal norms, and explore ways to advocate for gender equity within their communities. Among the key issues discussed included the persistent barriers women face in accessing their rights and the urgent need to elevate women in leadership and decision-making spaces.

In Kwale county, four female gender champions from Msambweni Queens and Lungalunga Youth Community Based Organisation represented adolescent girls and young women to present a memorandum to the Governor Fatuma Achani. Key issues raised included school dropout rates and the prevalence of teenage pregnancies in Mwereni Ward. In response, the champions advocated for a dedicated budget allocation for menstrual health products in schools as critical aspect for keeping girls in school and supporting them to complete their education with dignity.

As a partner of the Kisumu County Gender Sector Working Group, YSW marked the day with by participating in discussion sessions on male engagement and gender-based violence. The discussions on male engagement focused on educating participants on the need for including men in accelerating action for women empowerment and protection from harmful traditional practices. The GBV session educated the community on manifestation of, prevention of and response to GBV.