On International Women’s Day, we are reminded that progress does not happen by chance.
It happens because women and girls demand their rights, pursue justice, and take bold action in their own communities.
This year’s theme – Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL women and girls – speaks deeply to the work of our partners, who are leading change every single day. At indigo foundation, we stand beside these extraordinary local organisations, as they challenge inequality and create safer, fairer futures.
We would like to share with you three partners whose work embodies this theme so powerfully.
Advancing Rights
In Timor-Leste – one of the world’s youngest nations – young women are not waiting for change. They are leading it.
Juventude ba Dezenvolvimentu Násional (JDN) is a dynamic, women-led organisation based in Dili. Founded in 2014, JDN is guided by the belief that women and youth must lead solutions that affect their own lives. Today, JDN supports a growing network of young female leaders who are shaping education, public health and social initiatives across their communities. A central focus for JDN is combating gender inequality and sexual harassment. They have established a Sexual Harassment Activist Collective, where young women support one another to understand their rights, build confidence, and take action in public spaces, at home, and in their communities. They lead advocacy to make transport safer, educate young males, and influence local policies – ensuring women’s voices are heard and respected.
JDN also equips young women with practical skills and leadership opportunities – from running education programs on sexual and reproductive health to organising small income-generating activities such as guided history tours – enabling them to create meaningful change on the ground.
This is what claiming rights looks like: young women leading, educating, and transforming their communities from within.
Strengthening Justice
In Papua New Guinea, access to justice can mean the difference between safety and continued violence. At the forefront of this work is Magna Carta PNG, an independent, women-led human rights organisation based in Port Moresby. Entirely volunteer-run, and led by the formidable Shirley, MCPNGI is dedicated to protecting survivors of gender-based violence, advocating for the rights of people with disabilities, and strengthening access to justice for all.
Shirley says it best: “Gender-based violence is a human rights issue. Without rule of law, there are no human rights. That is why we have to improve access to justice for survivors.”
Since 2014, Magna Carta PNG has grown from a school-based social justice initiative into a cornerstone of human rights advocacy. In 2021, they opened the St Joan of Arc Safe House, providing 24/7 refuge, counselling, legal aid and medical care to thousands of women and children in crisis. More than 2,800 survivors have found safety, and over 800 have received legal support.
Their work goes beyond shelter: they educate communities, mentor trainee lawyers and social workers, and develop local programs like neighbourhood watches and a pro bono legal network – ensuring that justice is not just a concept, but a tangible reality.
This is justice in action: led by women, driven by community, and anchored in human dignity.
Powering Action
In Kigali’s Nyamirambo district in Rwanda, opportunities for girls and young women have historically been scarce. When Club Rafiki first started as a small hip hop dance club, it was mostly attended by boys. Today, it has transformed into a vibrant, female-focused hub of activity – providing education, skills, and safe spaces that young women would not otherwise have.
At the heart of this transformation is the Our Girls Program, which empowers girls and young women to build confidence, gain life skills, and make informed decisions about their health and futures. Through mentoring, weekly meetings, IT training, sports, and dance, participants develop leadership, responsibility, and the ability to support one another – all within a safe and encouraging community.
Crucially, sexual and reproductive health education is embedded into the program. Girls learn about HIV prevention, family planning, and positive health practices, giving them knowledge and control over their bodies and futures in a context where teen pregnancy and gender-based violence are real risks. Expanded outreach and counselling programs also extend these vital services to rural communities outside Kigali.
Through Club Rafiki, young women gain access to opportunities they would not normally have – from creative arts and sports to sexual health education and vocational training.
They are learning to communicate, make decisions, and shape their own lives. They are taking action.
These remarkable partners are not waiting for change. They are leading it – shaping solutions that are relevant, sustainable, and grounded in the realities of their own communities.
At indigo foundation, our role is to stand alongside them, not in front. We provide long-term, flexible support that respects their leadership, amplifies their vision, and empowers them to decide where support is needed most.
This approach is what allows JDN to educate young women about their rights and challenge harmful traditions; it allows Magna Carta PNG to provide safe refuge, legal support, and community justice programs led by strong, local women; and it allows Club Rafiki to expand its programs for girls and young women, teaching life skills, sexual and reproductive health, and confidence-building in ways that resonate with the girls themselves.
By supporting these local leaders, you are ensuring that rights are claimed, justice is pursued, and action is taken — by the people who know their communities best.
On this International Women’s Day, we invite you to stand with these extraordinary women and girls. Together, we can ensure that their leadership continues to grow, and that locally led solutions flourish – for ALL women and girls.
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