To celebrate International Women's Day this March 8, 2011, ACTED takes a look back at the pathways of women who now enjoy income-generating activities or health services that should contribute to the improvement of their existence, and their place in society.

Umida and her daughter, who fled Kyrgyzstan, now earn an income by making jam.

Vijaya was trained to entrepreneurship and got a loan, which enabled her to set up a very profitable grocery store in her village in Sri Lanka.

In Nicaragua, women receive information about gender-based violence through performing arts, in their Community Circus.

Finally, in Cambodia, women who are influenced by the "entertainment" industry high wages, are given health services and informed about the risks of sexually-transmitted disease and HIV transmission.