On 8 March, the world celebrates International Women’s Day - celebrating leaders and changemakers redefining innovation, working towards a gender equal future, and helping us raise much needed funds to accelerate gender equality.

Reaching millions of female entrepreneurs, Opportunity empowers women across Asia to pave a pathway out of poverty through small loans to start or grow their own businesses. On International Women’s Day, Opportunity highlights three women leading the charge for gender equality - including ambassadors, staff and the women we serve globally.

Third-year university student Ginger Mahoney is an Ambassador and supporter of Opportunity International Australia. As well as studying a double degree in Commerce and Law, she is the President of the Women Entering Business Society at Macquarie University in Sydney and is passionate about supporting women.

“Supporting Opportunity International Australia is incredibly important to me as I grew up with a single mother who was an entrepreneur and owned multiple small businesses,” said Ginger.

“She showed me the importance of women having their own career and success to be able to support themselves and their families. That is why Opportunity resonates with me, as it enables us here in Australia to support women in developing countries start their own business and work their way out of poverty."

Female empowerment is something that I am incredibly passionate about and has led to me supporting Opportunity for five years.”

Being President of Women Entering Business Society, Ginger has a platform where she can inspire and motivate other women and spread the word about the work of Opportunity.

International Women’s Day has a special place in Ginger’s calendar.

“This day is important to me as it celebrates the social, economic, political and cultural achievements of women, and is a time to reflect on the progress that has been made, but also acknowledge that there is much more that needs to be done to achieve full equality for women around the globe,” said Ginger.

“The theme of Cracking the Code emphasises the importance of bold, transformative ideas, inclusive technologies, and accessible education in combating discrimination and the marginalisation of women globally.”

Ginger with former Opportunity International Australia CEO, Meredith Scott

Despite innovation's ability to transform lives, there are many barriers that women in countries like India and Indonesia face in reaching full equality. The work that Opportunity does is ground-breaking, as it enables women to have access to technology and microfinance loans which is crucial in seeing inequality and injustice come to an end.

“To reach a gender equal future, we must crack the cultural, economic, social codes and disrupt entrenched and outdated ideas about the place of women in society,” added Ginger.

It's with thanks to Opportunity Ambassadors, like Ginger, that Opportunity is able to amplify the voices of the millions of women we work with globally and tell their stories. Learn more about becoming an Opportunity Ambassador.