SI Kapiti Coast, New
Zealand, Kids Fishing Day

In a partnership with a local boating club and with the
support of a number of local businesses who donated fishing equipment, jackets,
food and fuel for the project, SI Kapiti Coast offered disadvantaged children
an experience they would not normally have the opportunity to enjoy.

The local boating club was prepared to take children
out for a day fishing. Children from three organisations the club already
support, were offered this wonderful opportunity. Soroptimist members prepared breakfast for the lucky families and the boat crews, lunches, warm jackets and fishing rods were also provided for the children taking
part. The children were able to experience boating, fishing and some leisure time on
Kapiti Island Nature Reserve, where they stopped to enjoy their lunch. None of the children had enjoyed such an experience before, despite the fact that they live close to the
sea.

 

SI St Austell &
district, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Merlin Centre

The Merlin Centre aims to provide expert care &
therapies to improve the lives of those with M.S. & other neorological
conditions. The centre also give support to carers & the families and SI St
Austell & District wished to support their work, which improves the quality of
life for sufferers, particularly poignant as a member can testify
to the wonderful work they do.

The club held a Fashion show with the support of M &CO
together with a raffle, where the money raised would help towards the cost of the
Physiotherapy staff.

 

 

 

SI Cwmbran, Wales
South, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Selling Jewellery
for Alzheimer’s Association

SI Cwmbran was looking to provide monetary support for the
local Young Alzheimer’s Support Group in an effort to help clients experience more
meaningful life experiences. Soroptimist members volunteer at the local Young Alzheimer’s Group, at their
lunch club every month and one of the Club members works for the
Association allowing for regular communication and updates.

Members sold donated items of jewellery and scarves at
various open Club events. Thereafter, recycling the unsold jewellery, in the form of
jars of beads to Llantarnam Grange, for use by ladies at their Craft clubs. Generous donations were also given at the individuals own discretion. Gold and silver items
were taken to the local Cash for Gold company in order to raise as much money as possible.

 

SI Ballinasloe and
district, Republic of Ireland, Regional Public speaking competition

In a friendship link with Ennis Club, Castlebar Club and
Sligo Club and working in partnership with the National Association ROI and
Northern Ireland, SI Ballinasloe and district hosted the Regional final of the
National Public Speaking competition. Four clubs from the region took part,
with two speakers from each club. Each speaker presented a six minute speech on
a topic related to Soroptimist goals,which was then followed by a two minute impromptu
presentation. One girl from Ballinasloe club and one from Sligo club were
selected by the adjudicators to go forward to the National final.

 

SI Newtown, Trinidad
and Tobago, Caribbean Network, Mizpeh House Assistance

MIZPEH Halfway House located in Boys Town, Sangre Grande,
provides shelter, support and skills training facilities for women and girls
from across the country.  The women and girls have been affected by abuse, poverty, emotional
challenges and/or other societal ills. The facility was very much in need of repair and having
approached members of the Management Committee at the facility, a decision was
made to assist in the painting of the gate and the exterior wall of the facility.

This project was completed in summer 2014, on SIGBI day of
Action, with a significant donation of paint, painting supplies and financial
assistance from The Trinidad and Tobago Pilots association, Kaleidoscope Paints
Trinidad and Penta Paints Trinidad.

 

SI Bogense-Nordfyn,
Denmark, Autumn Market

SI Bogense-Nordfyn worked in a partnership with Lyons
in Søndersø Søndersø Business Community and Trade Guild, and gained sponsorship
for this project from Nordfyns Trade.The municipality, Nordfyns Kommune, receives many refugees –
mainly from Syria, but also from Iran, Afganistan and other countries. Recently eighteen women and their children arrived, all together there were thirty-eight small children. A volunteer group
from the Danish Refugee Council wanted to give this group a real treat by
taking them to Lego Land. Very few of the group spoke Danish, they live alone
without their partners and haven’t yet much experience of the Danish society.

The club donated D. kr. 20.000 to pay for renting a bus for fifty persons for the whole day and also paid for entry for the group – plus a possible icecream for the children! Amongst other things, SI Bogense-Nordfyn ran
a stall and baked pancakes, sold coffee and cakes, beer, sausages and had
a range of different competitions – charging a small fee to take part in a competition in order to raise the funds.

Like the volunteer-people from the Dansih Refugee Council,
we were very keen  to welcome the group of women and children to Denmark and give them the treat of a nice
day out together – in particular so the children would have a fun time playing at Lego
Land.

 

SI Lichfield and
District, UK, Dresses, Shorts and Stationary for the Children at Orisa School
in Esu, Cameroon.

Primary education in Cameroon is free, however families still
need to cover other costs such as uniforms and stationary. Finding the money for
this is often impossible, meaning some children are not able to attend school. To
make sure these costs do not prevent children accessing education, SI Lichfield, UK and
SI Kaarst, Germany utilised their friendship link to support pupils at the Orisa
School in Esu, Cameroon.

Through their ‘Sewing Bee’ group, SI Lichfield made 100
dresses and 50 pairs of shorts. These Soroptimist-made clothes were safely
delivered to the Orisa School by a member of SI Kaarst. This SI friendship link
has already supported the school in Esu by collecting stationary donations and
filling 120 pencil cases for the pupils.

At a presentation ceremony held when SI Kaarst delivered the
stationary and clothes, the school’s principal expressed her thanks and
appreciation, “We are learning the humanitarian spirit of Soroptimists and
hoping that these children become the future light to others… You are now a
family to the Orisa Pupils!".

 

SI Ballymena,
Northern Ireland, Gemma’s Fund to Enable Her to Access Employment

Gemma, spoke to SI Ballymena about the challenges she faces
living with epilepsy. Due to her frequent seizures, Gemma is unable to go out
unaccompanied and struggles to access employment, education and even
meetings at her child’s school.

Epilepsy support dogs are specially trained to alert owners
of an imminent seizure and having an epilepsy support dog would make a huge
difference to Gemma’s life. However, costing £6,000, getting an epilepsy
support dog is extremely difficult.

To support Gemma, SI Ballymena launched a fundraising
campaign. So far over £1000 has been raised and it is hoped that publicity in the press will encourage more public donations. The aim is still to help Gemma
get a support dog so she can regain her independence.

 

SI Meycauayan, The
Philippines, Educating Special Kids With Special Needs

Through an ongoing project, SI Meycauayan supports Special
Education Centre that provides for 150 special needs children. At the centr,
the children receive therapy sessions and medical treatment as well as
education. SI Meycauayan’s fundraising ensured the buildings were finished
in March 2014 and that the classrooms were fully equipped to provide for the
needs of the children. Further support helped the Centre hire two Occupational
Therapists. Members are now visiting the Centre and the children every month
and each time the children’s communication and other skills are improved.

SI Meycauayan hopes that this project will keep expanding so
that more women and girls with disabilities and special educational needs so in need of help, will be able to receive it.

 

SI Meycauayan,
Philippines, End Domestic Violence & Stop Trafficking

To raise awareness and help women who are victims of
domestic violence and exploitation, SI Meycauayan held a Women’s Forum. This
Forum also sought to contribute to the elimination of trafficking in persons,
especially women and children. Not knowing what legal protections are available
leaves victims extremely vulnerable.

At the Women’s Forum there were talks about the different
kinds of violence that takes place against women and their children, and also discussions on the penalties
perpetrators of these crimes can receive. With this knowledge, women in the
community feel more empowered to take action by further spreading awareness and
reporting crimes.

After speaking to the Women’s and Children’s Protection Desk
at Meycauayan Police Station, SI Meycauayan discovered that following the Women’s
Forum, more victims of gender-based violence and trafficking were reporting the
crimes and reaching out for help.