Santa Maria College’s SRC Takes Action for International Women’s Day

March 6, 2025

Creating change requires more than just recognition; it demands action. International Women’s Day is a call to accelerate progress for women and girls. This year, we embraced the United Nations theme, ‘Accelerate Action,’ reminding us that gender equality cannot wait. With the world still a long way from true equality, we must be bold and act now.

Globally, gender equality is still 133 years away. That’s more than a century of missed opportunities, lost potential, and delayed justice. Australia has improved slightly, ranking 24th out of 146 countries in the Global Gender Gap Report, but the reality is clear: progress is too slow. We cannot wait. We must act now.

Our Students - The Change-Makers of Today and Tomorrow

We believe in empowering young women to be the catalysts of change. This year, our Student Leadership Council led a series of impactful International Women’s Day activities designed to raise awareness, spark advocacy, and drive real action.

Wearing Purple Ribbons: Purple is more than a colour. It’s a symbol of strength, justice, and dignity. By wearing it, our students made a visible statement of solidarity.
Bake Sale Fundraiser: Raising funds that support and uplift women and girls, reinforcing that change happens when we invest in each other.
Mercy Walk Activities: Engaging in community activities that foster unity and shared purpose.
PCT Sessions: A moment of personal reflection where students wrote pledges on how they will actively accelerate action toward gender equality.

The Power of the Pledge Walls: Over 1300 Commitments to Change

One of the most profound elements of this year’s celebration was our Pledge Walls. More than 1,300 students wrote personal pledges, each one a declaration of commitment to gender equality.

Imagine walking through the halls of Santa Maria College and seeing wall after wall of handwritten promises – each one a promise to stand up, speak out, and take action. These Pledge Walls are a testament to the collective power of young women who refuse to be bystanders in the fight for equality.

Head Girl Annika shared, “The saying’ actions speak louder than words’ comes to life when we write something like a pledge card. The pledge cards feel like a real, physical commitment where girls have to really think about what they will do. Having them displayed around the school, I think, acts as a reminder of the commitments we have made individually and collectively, encouraging us all to take action beyond just International Women’s Day.”

Every single pledge is a ripple that can turn into a wave of change. When we see our words displayed, we are reminded that change starts with us.

Living Our Mercy Values Every Day

At the heart of everything we do are our Mercy values: Hospitality, Compassion, Justice, Service, and Excellence.

Justice calls us to stand up for fairness.
Service reminds us that change happens through action.
Excellence drives us to not just hope for a better future, but to create it.

International Women’s Day is not just about one day of reflection but about a lifetime of impact.

The Future Starts Now – What’s Your Pledge?

The world needs courageous, compassionate, and determined women to lead the way. And they are right here, in our classrooms, in our community, in our hearts.

So, what’s your pledge?

Will you challenge inequality? Will you raise your voice? Will you support the women and girls around you?

The time for waiting is over. The time for action is now. Let’s not wait for change – let’s create it.

#GenderEquality, Activism, Empowerment, Featured, InternationalWomensDay, MercyValues, PledgeWall, StudentLeadership

Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.