These words immediately caught my eye when I entered the Luminary Ltd. training room in February (2025)..
They were on a poster and they stirred something in my spirit, and have remained with me. So much so that they are the opening lines of a poem I wrote for Luminary’s International Women’s Day (IWD) Party.
The piece was inspired by the vision, mission and values of Luminary and the women who have been a part of Luminary‘s Employability & Independence program. Some of the words in this piece come from things they have said and experienced. You can find out more about the impact of Luminary’s work here:
Empower
“Feel free to draw something to go with it
” – JW, Saturday 1 March 2025 (whatsapp)
The poem is paired with stunning artwork by WishartWorks, and the above quote was basically all—on my part—it took to get my talented cousin to create it. WishartWorks sent me the finished piece on the following Saturday, IWD, 8 th March 2025)
Sometimes all it takes to inspire someone to action is a few words. Likewise, with a few words and small acts we can empower people to action on their on behalf or on behalf of others.
What few words or small acts can you be doing to empower someone or yourself today?
Poetry as Bridge
Today (21 March) is also World Poetry Day so it’s fitting to post a piece of #poetry
The theme for World Poetry day this year is, ‘Poetry as a Bridge for Peace and Inclusion’.
The theme highlights poetry’s role in fostering harmony, bridging cultures, and expressing deep human emotions.
Poetry connects people across borders, fostering mutual understanding and respect. By amplifying diverse voices, including those from marginalised communities, poetry serves as a catalyst for cultural exchange and social unity.
The Guardian Arts (Nigeria)
The theme for International Women’s Day was ‘Accelerate Action’.
Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge gender equality. Collectively for #IWD2025 we can all #AccelerateAction.
InternationalWomensDay.com
To my mind there are clear points of resonance—a bridge—between them. I’m sure many of us would wish to see change coming more quickly in the pursuit of peace, inclusion, gender equality and more.
Words to Remember
I shall end where I begun:
Empowered women empower women
ps. I tried something different with the audio