A Reflection on What I Learned at My First International Women’s Day Celebration

I used to think International Women’s Day was reserved for ‘the experts’, the women who had already ‘made it.’ I didn’t realize it was actually a space for those of us currently in the messy middle of figuring things out, too.

When I saw the theme of this year’s celebration, “GIVE TO GAIN 2026“, I had questions in my curious mind. Do I have anything impactful to give? What will I gain? Money?😄

Thankfully, Africa Wiki Women hosted an insightful online event and my mind was stilled after a period of looking for answers. We listened to amazing women: Carolyn Seaman (CEO, Girls Voices Initiative), Rejoice Agbi (Executive Director, Heels and Sips Network and Groom Careers), and Obiageli Ezeilo (Founder, Wiki for Senior Citizens Network).

Here is what I found out:

There is no contribution too small to be considered an impact. Offering to help someone get something right is a “give” and when the impact multiplies from one to another, “we are gaining” and “we are getting better together”. One of the speakers shared how she mentored someone I learn from (a lot) on how to settle into the Wikimedia ecosystem and contribute effectively. Now I think I get the gist.

Celebrating IWD for the first time taught me that knowledge becomes practical when you can pass it to others around you.

I crowned the celebration with a Unilorin Wikimedia Fan Club in-person event and edit-a-thon on Wikipedia and Wikidata titled “Voices of Change: Documenting Women Activists and Politicians as part of IWD’26“. So, it’s safe to say that I just concluded the celebration but the impact continues.

After the event, we took pictures. I met Fatimah Bello, one of the event organisers and a guest on an episode of Africa Wiki Women Voices Podcast.

Hi there! My name is Adeyinka Ekundayo, and I am a Wikimedian. I hope you enjoyed reading this and gained a thing or two from my IWD 2026 Celebration.