Working toward a Gender Equal World

This week’s Fist Bump Friday goes out to VL Zambia’s Gender Focal Point Mary Malasa and the entire VL Zambia team for their commemoration of International Women’s Day on March 8, 2020, a day set aside by the UN to commemorate women and explore issues relating to gender equality. This year’s commemoration marks 25 years since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action, which has helped to advance women’s rights. The theme for the year is, “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights”. 

To mark the occasion, Mary Malasa organized photo sessions at VL Zambia’s various offices across the country – Lusaka, Ndola, Chipata, and Nchelenge, including the insectary located within the National Malaria Elimination Center. Photos were shared on Facebook, Yammer, and WhatsApp (in the Abt Gender focal person’s WhatsApp group). In addition, project staff were also encouraged to share their individual photos. VL Zambia’s Chipata office team also participated in the district’s march on March 9, 2020, commemorating International Women’s Day.

VL Zambia plans to sustain the momentum for gender equality by increasing the number of females to be recruited during the upcoming 2020 IRS campaign in September from the current 33% to a minimum of 40%. The adopted motto for this project initiative is entitled, “collectively, we can help create a gender-equal world”.

Way to go Mary and VL Zambia! You make us proud! Scroll down for all photos.