Competition to find the most influential female agents of Change!

The theme of Commonwealth Day 2011 is ‘Women as Agents of Change’. Women and girls make up over half of the world’s population. In the Commonwealth, that’s over one billion women and girls! As part of the events taking place throughout the year to celebrate this theme, the Commonwealth is running a competition to find the Commonwealth’s most inspiring women agents of change and we want to make sure Soroptimists are represented!

Every day, Soroptimists in Commonwealth countries work to improve the lives of women and girls in communities all over the world. Some of these women work all day to ensure that there is food on their family’s table. Others are campaigning for political, social and economic rights. Many are setting examples to others, pushing through vital reforms in public services or running community projects.

To celebrate and highlight the achievements of these inspiring women, please forward any nominations you may have to your Federation. They will then send you a nomination form and further details. Nominees may come from any walk of life, social background or profession. SI can enter three women into the competition. A shortlist of the nominations will go to a judging panel who will decide on the Commonwealth's most inspiring agents of change based on the strength of their achievements in making a positive difference to the lives of others.

The Commonwealth's most inspiring agents of change will be featured in a special publication, which could be presented at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October 2011 in Perth, Australia.

The countries eligible for this competition, by Federation, are:

SIA:
Canada

SIE:
Cyprus, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda

SIGBI:
Antigua, Barbados, Cameroon, The Gambia, Grenada, India, Jamaica, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Nigeria, Pakistan, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, UK

SISWP:
Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands

All entrants must be aged 18 or over and any winners must be willing to participate in publicity surrounding the competitions including the publishing of their details, photographs and any video footage which will be made available in all media, including on the internet.

Please visit the women as agents of change website for more information about the Commonwealth theme.

SI must recieve all nominations by March 9th. We look forward to receiving nominations!