Much as I don’t like the idea of International Women’s Day, there is no denying that women sometime need to be celebrated, if only to give them the strength to carry on fighting for equality, for their family, for their job and simply for their happiness.

I’ll tell you this, feminism isn’t dead and below are the women who rock my life, every day. They are the journalists I work with in Congo, but really I work for them. They inspire me, they make me smile, they make me believe, they are my reason to get out of bed every morning. Their strength, their determination, their courage, their generosity is what I want to celebrate today.

Congo isn’t exactly the best place on earth to be a women already, but female journalists have to endure all kind of stereotypes on top of that. Passy Mubalama, my friend and a Congolese journalist, talked to me about the obstacles she had to face to become a reporter and why it takes much courage to carry on (click on the audio player to listen to her).

They are my heroes.

Passy Mubalama

Espérance Nzigire

Godelieve Uwimana

Constance Simweray

Denise Rukundo

Désange Kihuha

Euphrasie Talimona Mukelo

Lucie Bindu

Marie-Noellard Muhindo

Nicole Kabuo Tambite

Régine Ndwamwenge

Sarah Nsimire

And just before you go away, remember that Intl Women’s Day is much like Valentine’s Day, it should be every day, all over the world.