Our campaign for gender equality, Stop Working for Change, returns for the third consecutive year, but this time with a twist. In 2025, March 8th fell on a Saturday, which made the ‘stop’ part a bit tricky. However, as women’s equality doesn’t recognise weekends, we decided to change that ‘Stop’ to a ‘Keep.’
Although progress is being made, there’s still too much to be done, and change is slow. In Spain, only 27 out of every 100 CEOs are women. In Portugal, only 14% of women hold executive management positions. Less than 30% of experts cited in digital media in Spain are women. And the gender pay gap in both countries is around 15%.
We believe these are compelling reasons to maintain our campaign and evolve it to “Keep Working for Change.” This year, we are also expanding our focus from collaborating only with NGOs to working with any company or initiative led by women.
What hasn’t changed from last year is the donation of hours. The agencies participating in this campaign will donate a minimum of 8 hours (or their equivalent per team member) to support a female entrepreneur, a woman-led company, or an NGO/initiative that works towards women’s empowerment. At Canela, as in previous years, we will donate 8 hours per employee, totaling 288 hours.
22 agencies, 22 countries and 1,922 pro bono hours to fight for gender equality
22 agencies from 22 countries – Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Germany, India, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States and Uruguay – have joined Stop Working for Change.
We would like to thank About a About PR, Adel & Link, Bi Universe, Candour Communications, COMMSX, Dimitrakis, Enterie, Felicidad Collective, Hope&Glory PR, Kalvin Public Relations, Liberty, Mum Abroad, NEI, Oink My God, Omertà PR & Influence, Profeina, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, Sherlock Communications, Sing Comunicação, Solve Strategies y The Wilful Group their participation in the campaign.
Together we have managed to raise 1,922 hours that we will donate over the course of 2025 for the moment, to 4Voices, A Avó Veio Trabalhar, Afesu – Associação Feminina de Estudos Sociais e Universitários, Alba Cardalda, Psicología y neuropsicología, Dejamos Huella, Escuela Cooperativa Textil Nadia Echazu, ETASHA, Inspiring Girls, Lightly Technologies, Mujeres de Mar, Projeto Vivas, Rodzice dla Klimatu (Parents For Future Poland), Recicla LATAM and Yo No Renuncio.
If you don’t want to miss anything we achieve, follow @stopworkingforchange and Canela’s networks Let’s keep adding up to go even further in 2026!
Deborah Gray is Founder and CEO
