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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