By Alicia Curtis. February 2025.
As we step into 2025, the world feels like it’s at a crossroads. The challenges of inequity and injustice persist, but yet so does our collective power to create change. In 2025, it’s more important than ever to choose connection over division, action over apathy, and hope over despair.
At 100 Women, we know that real impact happens when people come together to address the issues that matter most. The lessons of the past few years have powerfully reminded us just how deeply interconnected we all are. We cannot thrive in isolation, our progress is bound together in our collective action.
“Giving is not just a transaction, it’s a radical act of hope”
Giving as a Radical Act of Hope.
For those of us with privilege (and that means a roof over our head, food in the fridge, access to health, education and work), the responsibility is clear. You must play a part in creating meaningful change. Giving is not just a transaction, it’s a radical act of hope. It’s a statement that says: I see you, I care for you, and we are in this together.
At 100 Women, we’ve built our foundation on this principle. Since our inception, inspired by Half the Sky by Sheryl WuDunn and Nicholas Kristof, we’ve worked to address the devastating realities many women face still face here in Australia and around the world.
The stories in this book (which unfortunately still echo today), of women risking their lives in childbirth, being denied an education, trapped in cycles of poverty… galvanised our purpose and a community to ensure all women have access to health, education, economic empowerment, and safety. These are not luxuries, they are basic human rights.
Here are the real life examples, through our collective action, we have loved:
- standing solidarity with Koya Aboriginal Corporation’s Koordoormitj Djookian (Sisters) Club , providing a safe and supportive space for Aboriginal and other vulnerable girls,
- supporting 192 female survivors of domestic violence seek peer support and guidance through Midland Women’s Health Care Place Strength to Strength program,
- helping 50 Ugandan girls through School For Life Foundation transition from primary school to high school and safe from unwanted pregnancy, child marriage and child labour,
- igniting 200 First Nations women to grow in economic independence through Ember Connect’s Mentoring program , and
- empowering 1000 girls with the tools and knowledge to keep them safe from trafficking and exploitation in Cambodia through AusCam Freedom Project.
These are just five of the 44 projects we have funded and supported, giving hope to women locally and globally.
There is still “Power in Diversity“
The impact of bringing diversity into positions of power is being challenged. We must stand strong and ensure that power is shared, opportunity is shared, and equity is reached.
Diversity in giving is crucial, not just in who receives funding, but in who participates in the act of giving. Bringing diverse voices into grant-making ensures we tackle problems with depth and perspective.
It’s equally vital to give both locally and globally. Supporting women in your community is essential, but so is reaching out a hand across borders. Whether it’s your neighbour in need or a woman on the other side of the world, every act of generosity counts and is powerful.
In Australia, women face unique challenges – domestic violence, economic inequality, and barriers to leadership. These challenges can touch our family, our neighbours or our work colleagues. We need new and creative thinking, like Orana House with their Housing Families project , who are partnering with women survivors of family domestic violence to find socially conscious landlords to offer sustainable rentals.
Globally, these challenges multiply in complexity and severity. Inequity is a choice. And in 2025, we must challenge the structures that perpetuate it. But it can be done, the ingenuity and empowerment that can be achieved is incredible. With 100 Women funding, Pollinate Group mentored 50 Nepali women to run their own micro business helping them and their families out of poverty.
Building a Movement for Equity
We need a movement. A groundswell of people across Australia committed to equity and opportunity for all. A community of change-makers willing to use their voice, time, talents, and resources to stand for social justice.
This isn’t just about writing cheques (although that is definitely helpful!), it’s about rewriting the narrative. By joining 100 Women, you’re not just donating; you’re joining a community that is making a commitment to amplify hope and create a tangible impact to the lives of women and girls – just read our Impact Report!
Why 2025 Matters
The equity of women and diversity is being challenged like never before. This is a pivotal year to raise your voice, to align your resources with your values, and to take a stand for humanity. People are worried, they are scared and the future feels uncertain. This can bring division, or even, worse apathy. Don’t turn away because it feels too hard. This is why community matters. You’re not alone. Reach out, be part of the movement of change. This is the year to show up, to care deeply and be in it together.
How You Can Help
Join 100 Women: Become a member and contribute to meaningful projects that empower women globally and locally. Encourage your friends, family, work and sporting friends to join with you!
Join a 100 Women Committee: Share your talent and passion to help build our movement – we are growing right across Australia, and we have big dreams to make an impact.
Share Your Voice: Advocate for equity in your workplace, community, and online.
Together, we can still build a brighter future. Not just for women, but for everyone. Because when women thrive, families thrive. When families thrive, communities thrive. And when communities thrive, the world changes.
100 Women empowers everyday people to become philanthropists, funding projects that improve women’s access to health, education, economic empowerment, and safety, both locally and globally. This is not the time to stand back, it’s the time to step forward.
Together, we can meet these challenges head-on and build a better future for women and girls everywhere, and in doing so, help our whole communities.
Let’s make 2025 the year we stand together. Join us at 100 Women, and let’s create a world where equity and opportunity are not privileges but rights for all.
