Thinking Aloud: Making Women's Month Celebration Inclusive

A month from now, the world will be celebrating International Women’s Day and in the Philippines , the National Women’s Month for the whole month of March. All eyes are set for March with a myriad of activities undertaken by different groups in the country and across time zones. Can you imagine how busy the internet will be when everyone is zooming, meeting, teaming and on every available digital platform.  Yes, we will be busy. We can connect with each other. We can interact with one another across the ocean  despite the pandemic. We can reach more audiences. But not everyone.

We may be carrying half the sky but majority of women and men have no access to the internet. The digital divide is more glaring these days. Even those with access have difficulty attending virtual meetings and webinars due to poor internet connection.

“Hello ... hello ... can you hear me? Sorry I got dc”. Disconnected.

How can we reach those who are disconnected from the digital world, those  living in the rural areas and the only source of information are the mainstream television programs with  more time for advertisements than program and very little development information?

How do we expand our audiences beyond our networks and get out of the comfort of talking with the converted to ensure that those who need the information more are reached?

Thinking aloud for an inclusive celebration of International Women's Day and Women's Month. 

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