Every four years Soroptimist International launches a major international project in partnership with a charity, NGO or United Nations agency. Each project is designed to be self-sustaining by the end of SI's four-year commitment. Soroptimist members around the world join forces to give active support to the chosen project and in doing so, have improved the lives of many thousands of women and children across the globe.
Each Federation takes it in turns to propose an international project: our current project was initiated by Soroptimist International of Great Britain & Ireland.
Soroptimist International Quadrennial Project 2007 to 2011
Our current Quadrennial Project, Project SIerra: a Family and a Future, was launched at Convention in July 2007. The project supports women caring for children in extreme poverty and provides a caring, secure family home for children who are alone or at risk of abandonment. The project location is Sierra Leone, West Africa. Our project partner is Hope and Homes for Children.
Project objectives
Children, mostly aged 6 to 12 years who live on the streets are being helped to return home
Very young mothers estranged from their families are being empowered to be active community members and where possible reintegrate with their families
Families at risk of breakdown due to poverty, illness or death of one or both parents are being supported to self-sufficiency
Each child and family on the programme receives support that is individually tailored to meet their needs, including:
education
health care
counselling and help to strengthen family ties
securing safe living conditions
economic support to help families move towards self-sufficiency
See the impact of our Project SIerra partnership after two years in our new film “A Family and a Future: Your Impact So Far”:
With Soroptimist support, after Project SIerra’s first two years:
129 young mothers are now caring for and providing for their babies independently having completed their education or vocational training. Many are also reconciled with their families and enjoy their care and support.
200 families have been helped to move from a situation of extreme fragility to one of stability. All their children have returned to school and are making good progress.
75 families are now able to provide for their needs independently, for the long-term and are successfully exiting the project.
48 children who were living alone on the streets of Freetown have now been reconciled with their families. They are all back in education or have completed vocational training and apprenticeships. They have earned the understanding and respect of their teachers, families, carers, prospective employers and wider communities.
Project resources
Project SIerra’s dedicated website www.projectsierra.org is regularly updated with new resources, news, progress reports and ideas for advocacy and fundraising
“A Family and a Future: Your Impact So Far” is Project SIerra’s new DVD, showing the impact of Soroptimist support from 2007 – 09 (see above)
Soroptimist Club Protocol includes information about the Project and more ideas for advocacy and fundraising
DVDs and colour brochures specially made for Project SIerra are being released to all Federations
Each Federation has appointed a Federation Liaison to lead her Federation’s support for the project
Eight Soroptimists including President Hanne visited Project SIerra on a Study Tour in February 2009. Further Study Tours in January and May 2010 will give a small number of Soroptimists the opportunity to learn about the project at first hand, and be ambassadors for the Project in their Federations.
