International Women's Day is a powerful global movement to recognize the achievements of women and girls while celebrating the progress made in expanding opportunities and breaking down barriers. On this day, we commit to affirming the God-given value and potential of all people and working toward ensuring equal access to opportunities for all.
While challenges remain, your support is driving meaningful change. In this newsletter, we're excited to share impactful results from the Strong Women Strong World: Beyond Access program, highlight upcoming events, and provide ways for you to get involved.
Join us in amplifying the voices of women and girls this International Women's Day as we unite behind the call to "Accelerate action, accelerate progress." Use #StrongWomenStrongWorld and #IWD2025 on social media to be part of the conversation.
When women and girls thrive, everyone wins!
Our impact: Strong Women Strong World: Beyond Access midterm results are in!
At World Vision, we believe that ending extreme poverty is possible, but it won't happen as long as half the population is held back. We intentionally focus on women and girls in every aspect of our work because we know that when they gain equal access and opportunity, children are better cared for, families are stronger, and communities are more prosperous.
A tangible demonstration of our approach is the Beyond Access program. By integrating WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene), economic empowerment, and microfinance activities, we’re not just supporting women — we’re empowering them to accelerate progress for entire communities.
The Strong Women Strong World: Beyond Access program is seeing incredible results in the areas where we work. Here are some highlights from our midterm report:
400% increase in women with basic water access from an improved water source in Kenya
118% increase in women with an income from a small business or job in Guatemala
828% increase in women participating in Savings for Transformation groups in Zimbabwe
176% increase in women who agree or strongly agree they can save and start a business in Honduras
A summary report is in progress, and we look forward to sharing the remainder of these outstanding results with you soon. Stay tuned! We thank God for all that has been made possible through His grace and provision.
Want to learn more about Beyond Access? Watch this incredible video from Rumate, Kenya, below!
Upcoming: World Water Day Livestream Event | March 21
Dr. Greg Allgood, vice president of Water and Health, and Lyndsey Deane Ratchford, national director of Team World Vision, will host a World Water Day livestream from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT on March 21, 2025. This year’s event will highlight inspiring voices of National Leadership Council members, Team World Vision teammates, and experts from around the world.
(Livestream will be hosted on the World Vision YouTube Channel)
A noteworthy presentation that might interest you:
2 p.m. CT: Special presentation by Kathryn Compton, CDO of Strong Women Strong World, and Kristie Urich, WASH Technical Director, to discuss Strong Women Strong World: Beyond Access
Partner spotlight: Celebrating 50 years with purpose
A reflection written by Women for Women 24-Hour Relay participant Jennifer Witten.
Last summer, I celebrated turning 50 and wanted a meaningful way to honor the incredible people who shaped my journey — those who paved the way for me, loved me, taught me to love God and my neighbor, and encouraged me to embrace challenges. When I first heard about the Women for Women 24-Hour Relay, it immediately felt like the perfect way to do just that. It was an opportunity to join teams of women committed to creating lasting change for women and girls worldwide — and a chance to visit my parents in Santa Barbara!
After signing up, I met my eight teammates — including an inspiring 12-year-old — on a Zoom call. We bonded instantly, and over the next few months, we connected virtually to encourage each other in our training and fundraising efforts. When the event finally arrived, it was a joy to come together in Santa Barbara, exploring the city and preparing for the challenge ahead.
Part of that preparation included a “shake-out walk” to familiarize ourselves with the 6K course, followed by a worship service on the beach. My mother joined us for the walk and immediately connected with my teammates — like-minded women who love Jesus and their neighbors. She was so inspired by the mission of women supporting women that, during the worship service, she decided to join our team! With my mom on board, our group of nine now included both the youngest and most seasoned participants.
The 24-hour relay was an unforgettable experience. It was challenging, but the joy of sharing it with a community of women who share my heart for service made every step worthwhile. Knowing that our efforts would have a lasting impact on women and their communities was deeply fulfilling. And walking alongside my mom — a woman without whom I wouldn’t be here — made the experience even more meaningful.
The Women for Women 24-Hour Relay raises funds for the Strong Women Strong World: Beyond Access program. Last year they collectively raised over $700,000!
Join in: 2025 Women for Women 24-Hour Relay
Join a movement of women committed to helping break the cycle of poverty for women and girls worldwide by participating in Team World Vision’s Women for Women 24-Hour Relay.
From sunrise to sunrise, teams of six to eight women walk or run 6K (3.7 miles) relay legs to raise funds for Strong Women Strong World: Beyond Access. This incredible event, FOR women BY women, is happening July 25–26, 2025, in beautiful Santa Barbara, California.
Come to a 30-minute informational session to learn more:
Join the Strong Women Strong World team at www.teamworldvision.org/w4w using the participant code SUNRISE. You can also give to the Strong Women Strong World team through this link!
Ways to take action
Everyone Needs a Believer® Conference | April 4–5, 2025, in Scottsdale, Arizona
Have you registered for World Vision's conference yet? This is an exciting time as we're embarking on an unprecedented call to empower 300 million people with life, hope, and a future by 2030 — in the name of Jesus Christ. You can register now by visiting worldvision.org/2025wvconference.
Lend your voice (and your email): Join the World Vision Advocates — a community of ordinary people who desire to follow God's call to seek justice! Visit World Vision Advocacy to learn more.
Engage on social media: Follow Strong Women Strong World on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn for updates, inspiring stories, and more.
World Vision's Strong Women Strong World®
helps keep girls and women at the center of global community development, advocacy,
and emergency response work. Together, we can continue making a difference
in the lives of women and girls and accelerate communities’ progress out of poverty.
