FMSI Celebrates International Women’s Day 2025 with a Focus on Empowering Girls to Lead
A Call to Break Barriers and Build Futures
“Empowering girls to lead is not just a necessity—it is an urgent priority. When one girl rises, she lifts her community, her nation, and the world with her.”
On March 8, 2025, the Marist International Solidarity Foundation (FMSI) joined forces with the Marist Bicentenary College in Ngor Okpala, Imo State, Nigeria, to celebrate International Women’s Day under the theme “Accelerate Action: Empower Girls to Lead.” The event, organized in collaboration with the G-WISE Ambassadors Club, highlighted the global Marist mission to uplift and inspire young women through education and leadership development.
Pamela Difino, a project manager at FMSI since 2022, delivered a powerful keynote address, emphasizing the importance of creating platforms for girls to express their concerns and dreams. “Our mission is simple: to empower young people, to provide them with a platform to express their concerns, and to help them bring their voices into formal settings where they can make a difference,” she stated. Pamela, who has worked closely with the Marist Brothers’ Secretariat of Solidarity, underscored the urgency of accelerating action to empower girls, calling it “not only a necessity but an urgent priority for all of us.”
The event also featured a heartfelt speech by Eleonora Gastaldello, Finance and Administration Officer at FMSI, who shared her personal journey and the importance of education and resilience. “Your voice is a thunderstorm. Your mind is a flame. And with education, you can ignite change,” she told the audience. Eleonora, who has worked on human rights projects and volunteered with the Italian Red Cross, emphasized that change starts with small acts of courage and determination. “Every book you read, every lesson you learn — they build the foundation of your future. Knowledge gives you the strength to stand up for what is right,” she added.
The day’s activities included a panel discussion titled “Trailblazers Talk,” a workshop on vision and goal setting, and cultural displays by students. The event concluded with a reflection and action pledge ceremony, where participants committed to breaking down barriers and supporting one another in their leadership journeys.
Pamela also shared inspiring examples of Marist initiatives, such as girls’ empowerment clubs in Malawi, where young women come together to express themselves through music, drama, and other creative activities. “Leadership doesn’t always have to look like a boardroom or a title,” she noted. “It can be a girl using her voice through music, or a group of girls organizing a play to raise awareness about gender equality.”
The event underscored the importance of empowering girls as a collective responsibility, reflecting the global Marist mission to uplift and inspire young women to lead and transform their communities. Eleonora’s closing words resonated deeply: “You are the change. Each one of you has a voice that can rewrite the future of your community, your country, and this world.”
As the Marist family continues to champion the rights of girls and young women, events like these serve as a powerful reminder that empowering girls is not just a moral imperative but a global mission.
Together, we can accelerate the action needed to ensure that every girl, everywhere, can lead and thrive.