Celebrate the power of women on International Women's Day!

Every year, on March 8, the world becomes a little pinker. This is because of International Women's Day; a day that is dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women and pushing for more equality. Let's look back to 1908, when this day originated many years ago and thousands of women stood up for their rights. In 1909, just one year later, the first Women's Day in America was a fact. After which several countries followed America in 1911.

On this International Women’s Day, we continue to celebrate the tremendous economic, political and social progress that women have made around the world. It is a day to reflect on the steps we have taken to reduce inequality, although there is still much work to be done, even in 2024.

To celebrate this day, this year's theme is 'one world, a thousand women'. The theme points to differences and similarities between women from the Netherlands but also from different cultures. This allows women to inspire each other but also learn from each other!

A Piece of History

Before we delve into what we do for this day, let's rewind to the beginning of the 20th century. International Women's Day has its origins in the fight for women's rights, the right to vote, and equal working conditions. It all started in New York, during a revolt of 15,000 textile workers against poor working conditions and gender inequality. Today, it is a global day of recognition and action. In various countries, they pause to commemorate this recognized day. In Italy, women receive a bunch of mimosas, in Argentina there is a large march and various meetings every year and in Armenia, women are put in the spotlight by men and boys by donating a small bunch of flowers. Did you know that at The Good Roll, 52% of the employees are women? Now that's women's emancipation!

Rolling Towards Women Empowerment

Our passion for toilet paper is no secret. But behind every roll is a story of impact. We invest in building sanitation facilities in schools and communities in Ghana, giving women and girls access to basic necessities. This is crucial; without these facilities, girls miss school during their periods, leading to disadvantage. Our role? To break that cycle.

Clean toilets and access to safe water may seem like a given, but unfortunately, this is not the case for many people, especially girls and women. The lack of decent toilet facilities in schools can discourage girls from attending school during their periods, limiting their educational opportunities and reinforcing social stigma. In addition, many girls have to travel long distances to collect clean water, which not only disrupts their education but also exposes them to safety risks.

Together with women and girls in Ghana, we are committed to improving this situation. At The Good Roll, we break taboos around menstruation and hygiene through education and collaboration with partners.

In addition to building toilets and water facilities, we also work on maintenance, education and creating employment in local communities. We believe in lasting change and focus our projects specifically on the needs of women, actively involving them in every step of the process.

At The Good Roll, we strongly believe in equality and the empowerment of women's rights, which is why we celebrate International Women's Day today! For us, this day is an important reminder of the ongoing fight for gender equality and the enormous contributions women make worldwide.

As an organization committed to social justice and sustainable development, we recognize the important role women play in creating positive change in their communities. By supporting, valuing and striving for equal opportunities for all, we contribute to a more just and inclusive world.

International Women's Day is a moment for us to reflect on the progress we have made towards equality, but also to remain aware of the challenges women continue to face, both locally and globally.

In conversation with Eleasha, Head of Foundation

Today we would like to give the floor to our Head of Foundation, Eleasha Ankohma, to highlight the contribution of The Good Roll to the emancipation of women. Eleasha will soon be leaving for Ghana herself to support the foundation and measure our impact. By going to Ghana personally, Eleasha will be able to better connect with the schools and the community. She will also support the construction of toilets and initiate new projects!

Eleasha plays an important role in our team and that is why we would like to introduce her to you. Last week we spoke with Eleasha. Read the interview below!

Eleasha, what does Women's Day mean to you?
Eleasha: “I believe this is a moment for women to come together, regardless of our differences, to celebrate each other for being women. Often as women, you are told from all sides who you should be, what you should do, and what you can and cannot do. But on International Women’s Day, we come together to celebrate the women who have fought to be themselves, to have their voices heard.

This day is special to me because often you are only honored when you have achieved something, done something inspiring, or are really someone. But on this day I am appreciated purely for who I am: a woman, and I am certainly proud of that."

Can you tell us more about the impact of the lack of sanitation on women in developing countries?

Eleasha: “The lack of decent toilet facilities in schools can make women and girls afraid to go to school, for example because of their menstruation, but also because of their privacy that is limited and social stigmas are reinforced. We want to get rid of this problem and through the ongoing projects, we are getting closer step by step!”

Are there any new projects planned regarding women's living conditions that TGR is currently working on or considering starting?

Eleasha: “This year we aim to further expand our impact by engaging in different types of development projects. In previous years we have already worked with 'Days for Girls', Nalú and other partners on various projects. Our goal this year is to realize this impact on an even larger scale.”


It is super important for us at The Good Roll to take a moment to reflect on International Women's Day. This day reminds us that we still have to fight for equal opportunities and rights for women everywhere. By celebrating this day, we show that we are on their side and that we want women everywhere to be able to shine.

We want to break taboos and take concrete actions to create a world where women can truly flourish. So let's celebrate this day together and continue to work towards a world where women are recognized, everywhere!

Happy International Women's Day! 💪🌸