For International Women's Day We Celebrate Local Women Making Change

Every year on March 8 – International Women’s Day, women are recognised for their push to break barriers and create a better world for all women. At The Weekly, we pay homage to the movement by celebrating these local women making change happen

- Natalya Molok

The Model Activist

KELLY TANDIONO 33,
Fly Entertainment artiste

A multi-hyphenate who dabbles in modelling, acting and endurance sports, Kelly wants to use her voice for good by advocating for children's access to education through the Happy Hearts Foundation.

On what makes her a trailblazer: “I always believed that if you come from a position of privilege, it’s your duty to give back to people who have less. Advocacy has made me a better person and a better woman because it reminds me to be thankful for what I have, and since I have this platform, why not try to make someone else’s life better too?”

On how she’s pushing for change: “I’m part of two organisations: The World Wildlife Fund and Happy Hearts Foundation. I’ve been the ambassador for Happy Hearts for four years now. Besides fundraising to build quake-resistant schools, I also organise trips to isolated areas in Indonesia where children have no access to electricity and water, and we see how we can help them.”

On her hopes and dreams for women: “I want men and women to be on equal footing. As a woman, you not only have to be independent and selfless, but you also have the responsibility of child-rearing and nurturing the family. We have [so] many roles, yet we’re not considered equals.”

The Sexual Assault Survivor

DEVIKA PANICKER
26, spokesperson, Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE)

Sexually abused as a child, Devika still lives with the unresolved trauma that her ordeal imprinted on her. As a survivor, she’s using her voice to speak out against sexual violence.