SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF CANBERRA INC

SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL
OF CANBERRA INC

SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL
PROGRAMME OF SERVICE
Soroptimist clubs work within the framework of the International Program of Service. Every four years, Soroptimist International chooses specific issues and concerns for their Program of Service to focus upon. This means that the clubs throughout the world can concentrate their efforts in common directions and that Soroptimist International can act as a more effective Global Voice for Women.
AWARENESS ADVOCACY ACTION
Canberra members have worked hard to raise their own and community awareness of a variety of issues.
The Club is currently investigating how we can best assist women in our community with practical and financial help through other organisations like women's refuges, women's health services, assistance with finance for study etc.
In keeping with the close association between Soroptimist International and a number of UN agencies, the club has always paid particular attention to special UN days and years including:

International Women's Day
International Year of Water
United Nations Day
SERVICE TO LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITIES
In 2004 our main project has centred on the building of a toilet block for a small school in school in Bedois, an outer suburb of Dili, East Timor

Foundations started late 2003

Keys handed over August 2004

A highly successful project in conjunction with Sth Canberra Rotary Club in May 2005 raised in excess of $15,000 to build further accommodation at the school.
SI Canberra continues to support many local organisations by providing people power at events like the annual Clean Up Australia Day.
2004/2005 have been very successful fund raising years and apart from our Timor Toilet Project, we have also been able to support many other projects including

Scholarships for students at Canberra School of Music.
Scholarships for students at the Canberra School of Art
Scholarships for students at Canberra Institute of Technology for a woman training in a non traditional occupation
Donations in kind for the Red Cross Roadhouse, providing meals for street kids. In addition to financial support the Club has held several food collection nights such as the "tonnes of tinned tomatoes" and "piles of Pasta" nights. These are all items specifically requested by the Red Cross Roadhouse.
Assisting to fund a young female wheelchair athlete to attend and compete in Athens at the Paralympics.
Providing Christmas gifts to three Women's Refuges.
ADOPT-A-ROAD
We continue a project commenced In 2000, when our Club, along with many Canberra service clubs, embarked on a new project to 'look after' a section of road in our territory. Members spend about 2 hours every second month on a litter patrol, and finish our patrol with refreshments after as a social activity. In return for this commitment the local Government erects roads signs acknowledging our community service. Our section of road is on the approach to a popular tourist lookout, Mt Ainslie that has superb views over the city.

Soroptimist Saturday of Service 2005
Members cleaning up