What a Conference!

Soroptimist in Action!

With 1,400 members from 29 countries attending, it was inspiring to hear the fantastic work achieved by Soroptimist Clubs across these countries.

Big Project Update

The regular readers of this column will be familiar with our, two year, Big Project, Birthing in the Pacific, our target was £100,000.00, this money to provide equipment and staff training to reduce the high death rate of pregnant mothers and babies. The final total, announced at Conference, was £144,595.51. We saw before and after pictures of an operating theatre- transformed from a basic ‘non-too-clean’ room with a table and chair, to a hygienic fully equipped facility, including a scanner, in addition to a ten bed maternity ward. A detailed text book has been published which is to be sent to poor areas free of charge. Thank you for supporting us in this project. More information at www.MCAI.org.uk

Fairtrade

S.I. Hamilton’s project - promoting Fairtrade football’s made in the Punjab.

Domestic Violence – ‘every six seconds a women cries’

Many clubs projects are making a difference – S.I. Derby have established a Women’s Centre providing confidence building sessions; S.I. Ipswich support a Women’s Refuge through a ‘clothes line appeal’ and Art Project. Domestic violence has overtaken ‘Aids’ as a global problem.

Nigeria - represented at Conference by ten clubs and thirty three members. This is how these soroptimists have made a difference:

One of the members gave a presentation ‘Widowhood Ordeal’. She told of widows being forced, by in-laws, to shave their heads; sleep with the corpse for 48 hours; being instructed to cry morning and evening for 4 days then not at all; of a 35yr old widow having everything taken by her in-laws, money, house and contents. However, our Nigerian sister brought us good news - after two years of concentrated effort a Bill has been passed making it a criminal offence, incurring a three year prison sentence without an optional fine, for anyone who engages in these practices.

>>>> click here for part 2 of the article