{"id":46237,"date":"2025-03-07T17:53:49","date_gmt":"2025-03-07T16:53:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hijasdejesus.org\/for-all-women-and-girls-rights-equality-and-empowerment\/"},"modified":"2025-03-10T21:41:59","modified_gmt":"2025-03-10T20:41:59","slug":"for-all-women-and-girls-rights-equality-and-empowerment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hijasdejesus.org\/en\/for-all-women-and-girls-rights-equality-and-empowerment\/","title":{"rendered":"For ALL Women and Girls: Rights, Equality and Empowerment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On March 8 we celebrate International Women’s Day <\/strong> with the slogan for this year 2025: “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

On this occasion, the commemoration invites us to expand equal rights, access to opportunities and decision-making power for all, leaving no one behind. At the heart of this message is the empowerment of the next generation, reminding us that lasting change depends on education, training and support for young women and girls from all walks of life. <\/p>\n\n

<\/a>A legacy of education and transformation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

St. Candida Maria de Jesus,<\/strong> a woman of faith and radical obedience to God, was a person ahead of her time as regards her perspective of women in society. She knew how to respond to the need for the integral education and improvement of the cultural level of women. We know from the beginning of the congregation which she founded that she personally took care of organizing the Sunday schools for girls in the domestic service. <\/p>\n\n

In her Letter #162 of December 1898<\/strong>, she proudly recounted the participation of 217 young women in the Sunday school.<\/strong> Many of them were domestic helpers. She valued their keenness and their willingness to learn. She expressed in this letter: <\/p>\n\n

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Today, with God’s grace, I am going to write to tell you that we have 217 very bright young women in the Sunday school. These are those who are enrolled and about 150 are those who are participating since almost all of them are working and leave every 15 days. They come with great eagerness and with the desire to learn a lot. On holidays we also have classes and on the feast of the Immaculate Conception we also held classes. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Letter #162 to Sr. Joaquina G\u00f3mez 19 December 1898 <\/em><\/p>\n\n

After more than 125 years, her vision resonates and lives strongly today. Although we have advanced in rights and opportunities, millions of women and girls around the world still facing obstacles to education, employment and leadership<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n

<\/a>A call to action: the future is now<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

Like Saint Candida in her time, today it is our turn to act. It is not enough to recognize the importance of equality; it is time to promote real change. How can we do it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n