This blog post was written by Megan Henderson, our Communications & Events Manager, and Rachel Beale, our Communications & Fundraising Assistant.

Through joining Five Talents' Savings Groups women become empowered to be their own advocates. They begin to speak up about the injustices that they see, become leaders within their Groups, and become more equal and valued at home and within their communities. But how can you be a better advocate for women both abroad and here in the UK? Here are seven key actions you can take.

Be mindful of your own biases so you can be better equipped to address them! We all have biases around race, gender and sexuality. In our programmes, we often begin with participatory exercises to enable women and men to explore how they spend their time differently and how they are valued. You can take this quiz to see where your own biases lie in gender. When you know where you hold bias you are better able to change and grow.
Choose to support women owned businesses - especially small local ones! Savings Group members are small, local entrepreneurs with thriving businesses. By supporting women owned businesses you help to build their income and their financial independence and autonomy, so they are better able to be agents of their own change.
Give your time to volunteer & fundraise for women’s organisations both locally and abroad. These organisations may provide education and health services for women or support for domestic abuse survivors. Volunteering your time, skills or fundraising capabilities to these organisations means they can provide even more services and support to women - sometimes within your own community. You can fundraise by doing a sponsored run, having a car boot sale or selling baked goods. Utilise your own talents and skills to find the best way to fundraise.
Don’t ignore ignorant or hateful speech. When someone says something problematic they need to know. Be bold and call them out so they can address their own biases and problematic language too. We’ve recognised that the power or voice we each have varies according to the specific situation. Where someone is less able to use their own voice, we have a responsibility to stand with them.
Share more stories of women, written or told by women, in their own voices (and of course ONLY with their consent). Women already have voices, but they aren’t always listened to. To be an advocate, help those voices be listened to by sharing those stories with others.
We need systemic change so be politically engaged year round too. You can join marches or protests, support campaigns, write to your MPs or start a petition. Women’s rights aren’t only important on International Women’s Day, they are important every single day.
Stay informed! Keep up to date on the latest news and information around women’s rights and injustices that women across the world could be facing. Here is one article to get you started.

Thousands of women in Savings Groups supported by our partners begin with small steps and multiply their talents and the impacts for their communities infinitely. For each of us too, taking small, everyday actions can have a huge impact on improving the lives of women everywhere, ensuring their voices are heard, and creating space for them to become agents of their own change.