International Women's Day in the Current Context

Urmila Chanam, a menstrual health activist and social enterpreneur, and Founder of Breaking the Silence Worldwide Foundation, a non-profit based in Bengaluru, Karnataka (India) wishes all the girls and women around the world a happy International Women's Day and gives an important message on the need for girls and women to stand together always, against the wrong happening around the world and be the change that the world needs.

A poem written by Urmila titled, \" I am a woman and I love it\" talks about a woman's strength to tide through challenges and emerge victorious in the journey of life.

I am a woman and I love it.

I have come a long way from what my parents dreamt for me to what I made myself to be.

Life threw lemons at me but I am a survivor, I survived it all what came my way, learnt valuable lessons and moved on. Never looking back, always looking ahead.

The hardships gave me sensitivity to people's problems and challenges, the tough phases made me resourceful and grateful, the road blocks gave me faith in God and in my ability to tide through the darkest nights.

Its a myth that tough times make a woman hard hearted. The truth is the storms make her gentler because a woman's strength is so deep, she turns the tide into compassion.

And when the spring of good times seeped in, I rejoiced even more, ever so grateful and mindful.

I am a woman and I love it.