Celebrating the women behind our most transformational partnerships this International Women’s Day
Blog by Caroline Whatley, Director of Partnerships at Save the Children
For the first time in 25 years, girls growing up today face a greater risk of violence, exclusion from school and inadequate food and nutrition than their mothers – a shocking reminder of how Covid-19 both exacerbates pre-existing gender inequalities and threatens the life-chances of girls around the world.
So this year, to mark International Women’s Day 2021, we want to showcase some of the incredible and courageous unsung heroines who have fought for children’s rights – both historically and today – and who help to make our ground-breaking partnerships such a success.
We couldn’t carry out our life-saving work without the unwavering support of our partners, and today we are shining a well-deserved spotlight on some of the remarkable women who are changing the future for children and creating a better world for us all.
Israa, Coaching for Life Manager in Jordan
A ground-breaking programme created in partnership with The Arsenal Foundation

Israa has been managing Arsenal and Save the Children’s Coaching for Life programme in Jordan since it launched in 2018 – supporting the mental and physical wellbeing of Syrian refugee children living in Za’atari Refugee Camp.
The programme supports girls and boys equally and has trained female football coaches to deliver the girls’ coaching sessions – teaching them about their rights and empowering them to build a better future. Israa has been instrumental in helping to destigmatise female participation in sports within the camp, which are traditionally perceived to be reserved for men.
We have seen real success in engaging girls in Coaching for Life, with girl’s participation more than doubling since the programme began.
Fadia, Community Health Worker in Yemen
In partnership with GSK

Fadia is one of many Community Health Workers working to provide health and nutrition services to children in remote villages in Yemen, who otherwise would have no access to healthcare at all.
Yemen’s health system is struggling after years of intense war and Covid-19 has created many further challenges. Funded by our partnership with GSK, the programme in Yemen is focused on maintaining access to life-saving healthcare, providing education and awareness, and training and protecting vital health workers like Fadia.
Rebecca, Hygiene Promoter in South Sudan
In partnership with Unilever and FCDO

Rebecca educates children and families about preventing the spread of Covid-19 through good hand hygiene. She distributes soap to households and carries out hand-washing demonstrations to educate the community.
Thanks to our partnership with the Hygiene Behaviour Change Coalition (HBCC), funded by Unilever and the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Rebecca - along with other Save the Children staff around the world - has reached more than 221 million people across nine countries with messages on Covid-19 prevention and hygiene.
Marinette, Peer Educator in Madagascar
In partnership with Unilever, Symrise and GIZ

Marinette is a peer educator for Save the Children in her community. She teaches young people about the issues that affect their lives, from marriage and early pregnancy to health and hygiene.
She also works with parents to help them better care for their children. Marinette’s work is possible thanks to our Vanilla for Change programme which we developed with Unilever, Symrise and GIZ - supporting some of Madagascar’s most vulnerable families, while building a sustainable supply of vanilla for the future.
Cathryn, Inclusion Worker in the UK
Funded by our partnership with Bvlgari

Cathryn supports vulnerable parents in the UK to access support groups and become more confident with parenting. She works with children who have additional learning needs and most recently has supported families who have been hardest hit by the Coronavirus pandemic.
With more children living in poverty, going hungry and unable to learn, our Emergency Grants Programme, funded by partners including Bvlgari, provides families with essentials such as food vouchers, toys, learning packs and household goods such as tables and chairs.
Stefania Colman
Raising money through our partnership with Rossano Ferretti

Stefania manages our partnership with Rossano Ferretti which supports our commitment to empowering girls around the world, giving all children the chance to be who they want to be, no matter where they’re growing up.
We rely on partners like Rossano Ferretti to raise vital funds and awareness for our much-needed work to protect, inspire and empower girls and children around the world.
The Women’s Network
Connecting women to raise the voices of women and girls around the world

In December 2020 our UK Women’s Network was launched, with Founding Members including Save the Children Ambassadors Natasha Kaplinsky and DJ Cuppy, to give women the opportunity to leverage their voices, talents and resources to collectively create large-scale transformational impact for women and girls.
Members contribute financially to the new Women’s Network Girls’ Fund, which supports programming and advocacy with a key focus on girls’ empowerment and gender equality, through both long-term investments and immediate interventions.