Canterbury
Section 1 - Who are we?Section 2 – What are our Aims?Section 3 – What we do?
LocallyNationally
InternationallyGlobally
Section 4 – PartnershipsSection 5 – FriendshipsSection 6 – How did we begin?Section 7 – Where are we
now?Section 8 – How do you get Involved?
Who are we?
Who are we?
Soroptimist International is a vibrant, dynamic association of professional and business women
Who are we?
We are the world's leading international women's organisation, focused exclusively on building a better world for women and girls.
Who are we?
We are women who use the expertise and management skills developed in our working lives to help other women.
We have just under 100,000 members in 3,085 clubs worldwide
Who are we?
SIGBIGreat Britain & Ireland
SIAThe Americas
SIEEurope
SISWPSouth West Pacific
Who are we?
SIGBISI Great Britain & Ireland30 countries including Commonwealth
439 clubs divided into 17 regionsSouth East Region has 15 clubs
Who are we?
What are our Aims?
We focus exclusively on building a better world for women, young and old.
Our Aims
We are committed to helping women and girls;
Achieve their full potential.
Realise their aspirations.
Communicate and compete
on equal terms.
Our Aims
What do we do?
We undertake a wide variety of projects.
•Locally•Nationally•Internationally•Globally
What do we do?
Project work is the essence of Soroptimism and we call it:
Programme Action
What do we do?
Programme Action falls into a number of categories:
•Fundraising•Hands-on support•Awareness-raising•Partnerships with others
What do we do?
What do we do
Locally?
What we do locally
East Kent Mammography Appeal
What we do locally
ABF The Soldiers’ Charity
What we do locally
Women’sRefuge
What we do locally
Loud & Proud
What we do locally
Woman of the Year Award
What we do locally
Girl Guides Link
What do we do
Nationally?
What we do nationally
Against Human Trafficking
What we do nationally
Voices in Verse Anthology
What we do nationally
Tellers of Tales
What do we do Internationally
?
What we do Internationally
Ed-Aid in the Gambia
What we do Internationally
Jacob’s Ladder Art Project in South Africa
What we do Internationally
Lumene Water Project Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Gambia 3E Project. • Educate• Empower
• Enable
What we do Internationally
What do we do Globally?
UKPAC has five areas of concern under its flagship Violence Against Women Project
What we do Globally
What we do Globally
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ‘STOP IT NOW!’
•Domestic violence•Elder abuse•Female genital mutilation•Forced marriages & “honour” killings
•Trafficking and the sex trade
What we do Globally
Soroptimist International has consultative status at the United Nations
What we do Globally
We have twelve permanent UN representatives, based in;•New York •Geneva •Vienna •Paris•Rome•Nairobi
What we do Globally
We have representatives in many other organizations, including;
•UNICEF •Landmine Action •The Status of Women Commission
•The Human Rights Commission
What we do Globally
We have accreditation with many bodies, including; •The UN High Commission for Refugees
•The UN Environmental Programme
Partnerships
Just a few of our Partners
And the list goes on….
• Breakthrough Breast Cancer
• Cluster Munitions Coalition• End Violence Against
Women• Fawcett Society• Say No – Unite• Smart Justice for Women• Trade Justice Movement• Unicef UK• Unifem UK• Women’s Environmental
Network
Friendships
How Did We Begin?
How did we begin?
We were started by a man!
Stuart Morrow
Where are we now?
Where are we now?
Soroptimist International is now the largest women’s service organisation in the world.
Where are we now?
“The 3E’s of education;
empowerment and enabling are relevant for every club and every member.
There are still gaps. We can’t stop or rest on previous achievements. The rate at which girls and women die even in western countries is higher for lower and middle income families.”
Hilary Rowberry Regional SI President 2012
Where are we now?
“Our job is to speak out to governments on proposals, such as the pressure we applied against the use of land mines.
S.I. covers 124 countries, a global membership of over 90,000 women. Over 60% of those in UN member states.
We are;
Agents of Change.” Hilary Rowberry Regional SI President 2012
How do I get involved?
How do I get involved?
What are the benefits of being a Soroptimist?
We are worth getting to know…
A Global Voice for Women
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