International Women's Day at Smart Group

This International Women's Day, We're Giving Back.

Here at Smart Group, we’re always keen to commemorate International Women’s Day on March 8th. It also allows us to review our policies and take stock as a business.

As of March 2023, we currently have 42 dedicated, compassionate and hard-working female professionals working for our portfolio of brands, all of whom play an integral part. Since the pandemic ended, Smart Group have been on an employment drive, and with a 43:42 split of our permanent employees, we think we have rebuilt the team with equality and equity in mind. We are also delighted to announce that we have a 3:2 ratio of women to men in senior positions (heads of departments and Directors). However, the focus of our International Women’s Day campaign this year is not on us.

Smart Group have recently partnered with B1G1, a global giving moment which will be rolled out in the coming months. To kickstart our giving, there was no better time than International Women’s Day whereby, we are supporting young girls in Kenya by providing sanitary pads and raising sexual awareness. Smart Group have pledged to support 85 young girls for a whole year. And why 85? A donation for each of our permanent Smarties!

Our total impact summary is: 20,400 days of sexual awareness education and feminine hygiene products for girls in Kenya.

About this project:

B1G1 has united with So They Can to facilitate this project. So They Can are a charity that provide education, guidance and counselling on hygiene, menstruation, sexual health and HIV. This project focuses on girls aged 10-15 years and aims to keep them in school. Education is such an important asset for girls, so we are supporting the making and distribution of reusable pads, alongside health education, which is at the heart of this program. This simple privilege can radically improve a girl’s attendance at school, improve her educational outcomes and remove the risk of early pregnancy and/or early marriage.

Society takes this simple product of a sanitary pad for granted. But in parts of Africa, a lack of education about menstruation, a deficit of washing facilities and a shortage of affordable feminine hygiene products can result in girls missing school for up to 5 days per month.

So They Can is breaking this cycle; they are tackling low school attendance rates and increasing drop-out rates in this demographic. Oftentimes, upon reaching puberty or starting menstruation, young girls often become pregnant and, in some communities are sold into child marriage. The initiative is run in partnership with multiple local schools in slum areas. These schools are often under-equipped with limited resources and funding from the government. So They Can bridge the gap and ensure all children can receive access to education. Education is an important asset for girls. Female pupils must understand they do not need to miss school or be exposed to sexual diseases.

This project supports three of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals: Gender Equality, Good Health and Well-Being and Clean Water and Sanitation.

A note from Chloe Jackson, our Managing Director:

‘I am always proud to lead such a progressive organisation, that always places talent and determination above age and gender, but none more so than on International Women’s Day when we celebrate each and every one of our employees and their achievements. Today it is all the more important that we are widening our focus to those less fortunate and I am delighted the team have opted to support such an important project as our way of recognising this special day.’

#EmbracingEquity

By supporting this B1G1 project, we’re #EmbracingEquity, the key theme of IWD 2023. Meaning a fair chance for all. 

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