The year is 2023 and things have certainly come a long way over the course of history, even if you just decide to focus on recent events and special breakthrough moments. On this momentous day, we thought we’d check out the women responsible for some great lotto moments in history!
International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It is a day to reflect on the progress made towards gender equality and to recognize the challenges that women still face. This year’s theme is #EmbraceEquity, which encourages individuals to imagine a ender equal world free of stereotypes and bias.
One of the biggest challenges that women still face is the gender pay gap. On average, women earn less than men for doing the same job. This inequality has a ripple effect on women’s financial stability, their ability to access healthcare and education, and their overall well-being.
This International Women’s Day, we must #EmbraceEquity to stand up against gender bias and inequality. We must work towards creating a world where women have equal opportunities and are free from discrimination and violence. We must challenge harmful gender norms and stereotypes and create a more inclusive and diverse society.
We must also recognize the contributions that women have made and continue to make to society. From the suffragettes who fought for the right to vote to the women who are leading the charge in the fight against climate change, women have played a vital role in shaping our world. See how one of the most beloved lotteries got started thanks to the hard work of a brave woman who was almost lost to history.
The Founder of the Lottery that Saved Children
Spain in the 19th century was a very different time and although the industrial revolution was starting to take shape, many were still living in poor conditions and children, in particular, were suffering from a lack of care in the city. Duchess Maria del Carmen Hernández, a pioneer of her time, devised a way to put a stop to this mistreatment and apathy by creating a rather splendid idea. The children would be saved thanks to the power of the now-famous “El Niño Lottery Extraordinaire”!
In 1877 Maria Hernández was married to a successful Industrialist. The Duchess was a charitable woman, particularly when it came to children and wanted to build a children’s hospital large enough to suit the city’s needs. In order to fund and construct the now known “Hospital Niño Jesús”, she devised a lottery, dubbed the “Raffle of the Child”. This name spurned the origins of what is now called “El Niño”, as the word Niño means child. The funding went ahead thanks to the lottery and the generosity of the good duchess and its efforts can be found still operating as a children’s hospital to this day in Madrid. In addition to the hospital, and the creation of El Niño, Maria Hernández also created the famous Lanjarón Spa, a popular health centre, and was the Chair for the Association of Caring for Spanish Children. If you ever decide to visit the streets of Madrid and pass by this historic hospital, you’ll see a plaque dedicated to Duchess Maria, honouring her as the official patron of the “Hospital Niño Jesús” and as the foundation upon which modern pediatric medicine was established in Spain. In 1995, the Hospital del Niño Jesús was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest.
The First Lottery (Failure) in England Paved Its Success
In 1568, long before official lottery operators were part of the picture, the first lottery appeared in the UK. Despite its absolute failure with the public, its invention and effort to create it can be traced back to Queen Elizabeth I as the founder. The plan to introduce a game for all to play was proposed in order to repair the nation’s harbours, however overall public mistrust, corruption and poor returns lead to its downfall off the bat, it’s still an important topic to raise in today’s society to know almost 500 years ago the idea of the lottery game to England’s shores and apparently dilapidated harbours.
The Football Heroes of Women’s Sport
Last summer England hosted the UEFA Women’s EUROs in celebration of women in sport. To mark this occasion, the National Lottery Heritage fund has awarded £500,000 to Women’s Football Heritage. The proceeds will go towards a documentary celebrating the unsung heroes of women’s sport, with a focus on the communities that kept the competition alive in a time when public appreciation was mixed at best. In a year that also marks 141 years since the women in England first played competitively, the project will challenge the perception of football being a novel concept for women and improve how the sport is understood.
It’s been 105 years since women were first given the right to vote, changing history and paving the way for women’s rights. Today, we celebrate all the incredible women who have helped pave the way for gender equality. We honour their hard work and dedication as we continue working towards a brighter future for all women. Onward!
International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate the achievements of women, recognize the challenges they still face, and commit to creating a more equal and just world. We must all #EmbraceEquity in our personal and professional lives and work towards creating a better future for everyone. Help us stand with gender equality this International Women’s day and celebrate and highlight the importance of women’s rights.