New Soroptimist International Foundation projects announced!
We are delighted to close 2024 on a positive note! Coinciding with Soroptimist International Foundation Day (10 December), we are excited to announce that Soroptimist International Foundation has recently awarded funding to two further projects, extending it’s support to more women and girls.
Steve Sinnott Foundation – ‘Ensuring Girls’ Equitable Access to Education’
The ‘Ensuring Girls’ Equitable Access to Education’ project combines two initiatives addressing period poverty and violence against women and girls, both key barriers to girls’ education. Girls often miss up to 50 school days annually due to limited access to menstrual products and related stigma, putting them behind in their education. The project will train women and girls to produce safe, sustainable, reusable period pads, manage menstrual hygiene, and dispel related myths about menstruation.
It also tackles violence against girls by training school leaders to support female students and establish structures to address and report such violence. Community awareness campaigns will address harmful practices like early marriage and ensure equal education access for boys and girls.
The project will empower girls to stay in school, foster self-confidence, and even develop entrepreneurial skills. It aims to raise awareness among 700–1,000 beneficiaries, including students, school leaders, and community members, leaving a lasting legacy of support and systemic change.
The project will challenge myths that education is only for boys, while girls are destined for marriage and household chores. Training sessions will dispel these misconceptions, sharing accurate information with parents, school leaders, and community stakeholders to promote gender equality in education.
This initiative will first take place in Limonade, Haiti; Pokhara, Nepal and then spread to The Gambia, Ghana and Makeni in Sierra Leone.
Soroptimist International Foundation will be giving £8,000 from the War Torn Countries Fund, to the Steve Sinnott Foundation for the project in Haiti and £8,000 towards the project in Nepal.
The Kori project
The Kori Development Project Ltd, in partnership with Soroptimist International Foundation, is completing the building of three classrooms and a toilet block at Bob Simson Technical Secondary School, Kori Chiefdom, Sierra Leone. This initiative supports SDG 4 (quality education) and SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), addressing overcrowding and creating separate facilities for girls.
The project empowers girls through secondary education and vocational training, helping them escape poverty and access better opportunities. By providing wells and sanitation facilities, girls can attend school during menstruation, improving health and attendance.
Set to be completed by early 2025, this project will provide quality learning spaces, attract skilled teachers, and reduce school dropouts. Girls will gain education, dignity, and confidence, leading to personal and community transformation.
Traditionally girls have had to work in the household and collect water, all our projects include provision of a well so that girls do not spend hours walking for water. By providing toilet facilities at the schools, we are allowing girls to continue to attend their schooling during their period.
The project will educate girls to the end of their secondary school years. In Sierra Leone at age 15 just over 50 per cent of boys are literate but only 39.8 per cent of girls are literate. This project aims to close that gender gap and offer girls the opportunities to go into further education or employment.
Soroptimist International Foundation will donate £4,000 going to the Kori project to ensure that it can meet its aims and objectives.
Addressing period poverty and improving access to education
Both projects prioritise creating an environment where girls can attend school consistently, including during their periods, to ensure they do not fall behind in their education. By addressing challenges such as inadequate access to menstrual hygiene products and sanitation facilities, these initiatives aim to remove barriers that disproportionately affect girls.
Providing safe and clean toilet facilities, reusable menstrual products, and education about menstrual health helps foster dignity and confidence, allowing girls to participate fully in school life. These efforts contribute to improving school retention rates, empowering girls with knowledge and opportunities, and paving the way for gender equality in education.
Further information:
Soroptimist International Foundation is a Charitable Trust overseen by SI (Soroptimist International) Limited. Soroptimist International Foundation is currently managing legacies, Educating Women from War Torn Countries fund and the final projects of ‘Opening Doors to a Bright Future’ Appeal (now closed to donations).
For further information or to make enquires regarding legacies, please email hq@soroptimistinternational.org
Donations to Soroptimist International Foundation are gratefully received.
An average of 34 UK pounds will provide a woman or girl with transformative training, funded by Soroptimist International Foundation.