<p>Today, we honor the achievements of women throughout history and all across the globe in celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD) with #ChooseToChallenge. </p>
<h2>What is International Women’s Day?</h2>
<p>The idea for International Women’s Day was suggested by the German women’s rights campaigner, Clara Zetkin, at the International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen in 1910.</p>
<p>This year is the 110th anniversary of the day that raises awareness of continued gender inequality. The United Nations (UN) started celebrating this special day in 1975. The first theme the UN put forward for IWD was “Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future” in 1996.</p>
<h2>What is the theme for #IWD2021?</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.internationalwomensday.com/theme" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">This year’s theme</a> is #ChooseToChallenge with the idea that a challenged world is an alert world and individually, we’re all responsible for our thoughts and actions. While the world experienced a very challenging pandemic, UN Women’s data reveals that the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-55016842" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coronavirus pandemic could wipe out 25 years of increasing gender equality</a>. Despite that, the movement has made major advancements in recent times. On this day, supporters wear purple to signify justice and dignity, and green to symbolize hope. </p>
<h2>TrueProfile.io celebrates International Women’s Day</h2>
<p>As the <a href="https://www.catalyst.org/research/women-in-healthcare/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">majority of healthcare workers globally are women</a>, TrueProfile.io is proud to celebrate this important day. We want to highlight the achievements of our female Members and listen to the advice they give to other women who wish to work abroad. We interviewed Charito Hernandez, one of TrueProfile.io’s long-standing Members, and the recent TrueProfile.io Scholarship winner, Theresa Peñarubia.</p>
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<h4>Charito, you have lived and worked in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for several years. What advice can you give other women who are considering working there?</h4>
<p>Life in the KSA is not as hard as I expected it to be. In the KSA, my hobbies and interests are still the same as what I did back home in the Philippines. You can watch movies and go to the mall alone! If you plan to come and work in the KSA, you can travel to see the Red Sands and enjoy going on desert safaris.</p>
<h4>We are celebrating International Women’s Day on 8th March. What advice can you give other women who aspire to work abroad?</h4>
<p>I have two pieces of advice. First, you have to chase your dream, so keep moving forward! Your only limit is you. Second, bring your resilience, faith, love and respect with you. </p>
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<h4>Theresa, you are the Charge/Head Nurse (Infectious Disease) at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM). RITM is the first hospital that Filipinos think about when dealing with exotic diseases, including the SARS-COV2 coronavirus. Can you describe what it’s been like working at the forefront of the Philippines’ battle against the pandemic?</h4>
<p>As a frontliner in the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), we are in a different war with COVID-19. The coronavirus is not like an enemy where we can see it; that’s why our role as health workers is crucial in dealing with this pandemic. Being a nurse is the best and worst experience. We are all happy when patients are recovering: it feels like we are winning in this battle. Our patients are like our family. We cannot back out when the sick patients arrive; it is part of my devotion as a nurse. And I’m grateful to have colleagues who are equally as excited for work and committed to helping, to the extent of risking their lives for others to be safe. </p>
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<h4>The whole world is celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8. As a highly-educated woman with a Master of Arts in Nursing, as well as being a Charge/Head Nurse, can you tell us what motivates you to strive and achieve for more?</h4>
<p>I felt that I needed to do something that helped people more directly. I chose nursing as a career because it meets that need. I do not think anything is more rewarding than helping someone in crisis. Most people become so appreciative of your services because, as a nurse, you are putting someone else before yourself. And that person you are helping becomes so appreciative of you for doing that.</p>
<h4>What tips can you share with other women that will help them to further their careers?</h4>
<p>Love yourself and love what you’re doing. Be a lifelong learner no matter what stage or age in your career. </p>
<h2>We want YOU to celebrate with us!</h2>
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<p>We want our TrueProfile.io Members to celebrate International Women’s Day with us. To show your support, all you have to do is:</p>
<p>1. Strike the #ChooseToChallenge hand-up pose and share it to your <a href="https://www.facebook.com/trueprofile.io/">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/trueprofile-io">Linkedin</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/trueprofile_io">Twitter</a></p>
<p>2. Include #ChooseToChallenge and #IWD2021 in your caption</p>
<p>3. Tell us how you plan to celebrate this important day for women</p>
<p>4. Don’t forget to tag us!</p>
<p>To find out what celebrations (offline and virtual) are happening near you, <a href="https://www.internationalwomensday.com/EventSearch">search here</a>.</p>
<h4>If you have not already signed up to TrueProfile.io, sign up now!</h4>
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