Soroptimist International aims to be a global voice for women and their rights including:
- the right to education and good health;
- the right to live in a peaceful environment without the constant threat of violence;
- the right to equal participation in decision making at all levels.
Soroptimists work globally to encourage governments and institutions to promote gender equality in economic and political structures and to recognise the importance of women's input into the management of natural resources and the protection of the Earth's environment. They seek recognition of the importance of women's unpaid labour to the social and economic wellbeing of all nations.
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Every two years, clubs have the opportunity to put forward a proposal for a new Federation Project. Members vote to accept a particular project at the biennial Conference of Clubs. Once accepted as a Federation Project, funds are raised by clubs throughout the Federation and the project is overseen by Soroptimist members.
Birthing in the Pacific
The current SISWP Federation Project – Birthing in the Pacific (BIP) was established in 2010. The World is 10 years into a 15 year action plan known as the Millennium Development Goals. The BIP project will focus on Goal 5 – Improve Maternal Health. One of the biggest killers of children under five is the failure of neonatal care, partly due to the lack of skilled birth attendants and appropriate maternal advice. The initial focus of this project will be upskilling and professionally developing midwives as a way of reducing the very high rate of infant and maternal mortality in PNG.
Past Projects
Previous Federation Projects have resulted in:
- Hands across the Borders a project to bring health, education and economic opportunities to Sampovloun, Cambodia. The initial focus of the Project was to improve sanitation and infrastructure as well as provide a number of basic supplies for the School and Hospital. Upgrade of the hospital and upsilling of nurses.
- establishing the first clinic in Papua New Guinea for victims of domestic violence;
- research into and support for issues related to care for Alzheimer's sufferers;
- a library and education centre for street children; and
- provision of simple cost effective devices for oral rehydration and controlled nutrition of children.
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Soroptimists Educate to Lead
This was the new theme voted for by members at the Montreal Convention in July 2011. Along with this theme, programme goals and objectives for the next quadrennium 2011-2015 were decided.
Goal 1: Soroptimist International will improve the lives and status of women and girls through education, empowerment or enabling opportunities.
Goal 2: Soroptimist International will be a global voice for increasing access to education and leadership for women and girls
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SI Hobart will be co-hosting Harmony Day, on March 21 jointly with the Anti Discrimination Comissioner of Tasmania, the Multicultural Council of Tasmania, and the Sports and Recreation Tasmania office at the International Wall of Friendship. |
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While SISWP Programme Director Robyn Cain and Australia National Rep. Catherine Evans were in the hub of it at the UN HQ in NYC for the CSW... SI Hobart members and guests gathered at the Constitution Dock Bridge at Franklin Wharf, Hobart on Thursday, March 8, 2012 from 5:30and stayed until it started to rain after an hour! Members and guests joined hands across the length of the bridge to draw attention and create awareness of International Women's Day and invite the public to join in and to contribute a message of peace and equality.
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Soroptimists from around the world also support an international project. Such projects are carried out in conjunction with one of the UN agencies or another NGO which has the infrastructure in place to assist local Soroptimists to oversee the project. The current international project, Project SIerra: a Family and a Future, is based in the war-torn country of Sierra Leone. It will support women caring for children in extreme poverty and provide a caring secure family home for children who are alone or at risk of abandonment.
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Each year, on December 10 (Human Rights Day), Soroptimists are asked to make some small personal sacrifice and donate the money saved to a project chosen by the President of Soroptimist International. Clubs are also encouraged to conduct special fund raising for the Appeal.
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Sandra Richards,South Australia's current Programme/UN Liaison was awarded an Irene Bell Community Service Award at the IWD lunch on Wednesday.
Sandra, an SI Torrens member , was recognised for her extensive work in Soroptimist International,her years of service to the National Council of Women of SA as a Minute Secretary, Vice President and newsletter editor . Her contribution as a Golden Guru mentoring NGO employees was acknowledged as was her contribution to the Cruising Yacht Club of SA in a variety of positions.
Sandra was both honoured and excited by the award for work which she felt had been a rewarding experience from which she had gained far more than she had given. Congratulations Sandra for a well-deserved award!
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Attached is an article in the latest Australian College of Midwives
Magazine. There is a lot of work happening in PNG around the training of
midwives. This is great for our project. Mary Kililo and Pat Brodie are two
people I will arrange to meet when I visit PNG on 21st February. I notice in
the article that they refer to the PNG Midwives Society. I need to establish
if that is different to the Midwives Association. |
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On Sunday 23rd January, Gold Coast member Dorothy Elliott called the Australian National Radio show 'Australia All Over' usually known as 'Macca on Sunday' with a simple request - as Dorothea Banner explains ~~
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Rwanda has made impressive
strides towards equality for women. The newly re-elected President and his
government have consistently demonstrated the political will to respect and
fulfill women’s rights. Reports of restrictions on press freedoms raise
concerns about broader human rights and democratic values and fears of a claw
back on women’s rights.Nevertheless, Rwanda’s women are
celebrating and expecting more from the current political regime.
Read the whole article at this link:
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What We Do 
