Soroptimists Recognize Excellence in Programme

AWARDS FOR PROJECTS OF EXCELLENCE!!

SI Grahamstown , South Africa, were the overall winners at the recent presentation of the annual SI Best Practice Awards Their project arose from concern about the survivors of rape in their area- rape is very common there. They have worked for improvement of services available as well as being involved in support groups and lobbying to establish a Thutuzela Centre- a one-stop assistance centre for victims of rape.
At the recent SI Board Meeting in Denmark SI President 2007-2009 Margaret Lobo presented their certificate. Certificates were also presented to celebrate Best Practice of clubs throughout the Federations. This year the projects chosen focused on the first four Programme Focus Objectives.
SI Curitiba , SI Milano Alla Scala combining with SI Milano Fondatore and SI Lome Agape, SI Bournemouth and SI Penang were all winners for the Objective ‘Eliminate poverty and gender discrimination through ensuring women’s full social and economic rights’. SI Penang was the overall winner in this group with ‘BLOSSOM’- a project aimed at supporting low income female earners, single mothers and schoolgirls 15-18 from disadvantaged families. Working with partners they have established training in communication skills, preparation for job interviews and training in other skills are offered weekly. Networks are built and opportunities for marketing created.
SI Norway was the overall winner for Objective 2- ‘End human trafficking and all forms of violence against women and girls’. Their project-‘ Hope is a Waking Dream- A Decent Life for Young Women in Moldova’ has given hope to girls- between 13 and 18- in rural areas of Moldova where the risk of trafficking is high. They supported the girls with social workers, training in life skills, enabled them to continue studies and provided accommodation for them. SI Manila Tourist Belt, SI Yeovil and District and SI Bangsar were the other winners in this group.
‘Ensure access to health care for women and girls’ proved a successful Objective for SI Pasco-Kennewick, SI Agen, SI Brisbane Inc with SI Grahmastown the overall winner of this group.
SI Matsue, with their project ‘HIV/AIDS is a Preventable Disease’ won in the group focussing on Objective 4- ‘Support programmes and policies that eliminate HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis and other major diseases’. They supported Matsue Municipal Girls’ High School with their programmes on HIV/AIDS and their work for orphanages in Romania. The pupils were also supported in giving their talks to other schools .Other winners in this group were SI Chianciano-Montepulciano, SI Carlisle and SI Brisbane South.
The projects all demonstrated the ability of Soroptimists to change the lives of women and girls around the world- surely a cause for celebration!

Margaret Cook
SI Assistant Programme Director