This week’s SoroptiVoice Blog is from Anusha
Santhirasthipam, our new International
Assistant Programme Director. How to we go from "the world’s best kept secret" to an international blockbuster? Read on…
When I walked up to the podium to speak at the International Convention
in Montreal, I had with me a sealed envelope which I tore open and announced
“And now, the Academy Award for Best Picture goes to “The World is Not Enough”
by Soroptimist International” which provoked a resounding applause from our
audience of enthusiastic Soroptimists!
“The World is Not Enough” is a phrase that originates from the epitaph
of Alexander the Great, a courageous world leader and empire builder who wasn’t
deterred by boundaries or unknown territories. I asked Soroptimists to envision an inspirational movie or special focus
documentary collaboration with a multiple award winning movie producer like
James Cameron or Steven Spielberg or Jane Campion that would inspire public
action for our Soroptimist causes and worldwide advocacy projects for women and
girls.
We are a 90 years old organisation that has achieved great strides but
in many parts of the world we are still perceived as “the world’s best kept
secret”. How do we get people all over the world to sit up and take notice of
what we do, partner with us, sponsor or support our programmes?
Our recently revamped SI Website is a great starting point; the holy
grail for Soroptimists! A treasury of resource materials with a database you
can easily navigate using our fascinating interactive tools. You have all you
need here to help you with your local community speech, policy working paper,
funding application or sponsorship appeal or for any movie script.
What could be more rewarding than to showcase and celebrate the depth
and diversity of Soroptimist club projects through shared videos on social
media like YouTube? Or organising a film festival in your local community to
screen films that create awareness about the needs of women and girls. Or
organising a photographic exhibition in your city that depicts a Soroptimist
cause and also arrange for a web-based virtual tour so the whole world can see
these images.
Every year Soroptimist clubs win best practice awards that demonstrate
excellence in fulfilling SI programme objectives. We
have clubs with innovations and pioneering initiatives that could be shared and
replicated in other countries. What can you do to put the spotlight on your
club’s award-winning projects in your country or region?
Media visibility is a great magnet to attract project partnerships with
socially responsible corporates and local community organisations. Social media
outreach is at our fingertips offering us endless opportunities to attract
volunteers to our advocacy campaigns and programme activities. Clubs that have
websites or Facebook pages are reaping these benefits.
If you wish to work with local newspapers, radio DJs or TV talk show
hosts as partners on a Soroptimist advocacy campaign and are not sure about SI
advocacy dos and don’ts, the SI Website has Advocacy Guidelines that will help
you. Feature writers, news editors and talk show hosts are always looking for
a “hook”. A newsworthy item that builds curiosity and stimulates public action
is always prioritised.
As you plot and plan your media strategy, think about Martin Luther
King’s “I Have A Dream” speech when writing your script, remember the phrase “a
picture paints a thousand words” when you organise your photo shoots or video
sequences and when you prepare for your speaking appearances at events go forth
like Helen of Troy who was reputed to be able to “launch a thousand ships”!
Over the past 10 years, I have personally appeared on more than two
hundred television, radio and newspaper interviews in several countries, and
from my first-hand experience, I can safely say it’s not difficult to get the
media to support and promote our programme goals and help us implement our
public awareness strategies. More and more Soroptimist clubs are harnessing the power of public
service messaging in newspapers, radio and television as a credible medium to
create public awareness and garner support. Such opportunities are often free
of charge or sponsored by advertisers.
High traffic locations are high impact locations to showcase our
projects and advocacy campaigns. Explore local shopping malls, airports,
railway stations, bus stations, movie theatres, universities and public
libraries. These are all great venues to have a sponsored video wall,
eye-catching campaign board or project exhibition. Once you are able to establish what community causes are supported by the
organisation owning these high traffic buildings, you will be able to link it
to a Soroptimist programme objective and build a working partnership.
Caring celebrity spokespersons are increasingly visible in championing a
variety of worthy causes. There is great value in securing a local celebrity actor,
singer, composer, artist, writer or poet to help highlight Soroptimist
programme objectives and project causes in your country.
Soroptimists have the potential to inspire scripts for local dramas,
song lyrics, artistic renditions, literary works and “women-friendly” events
that will help focus upon the education and empowerment of women and girls.
More importantly, Soroptimists can counteract negative media portrayal of women
and girls and encourage a more “gender sensitive” mass media by strategically
working with local celebrity talent.
By now you must be buzzing
with great ideas. Do share with us while it is fresh in your mind. Let’s reach
for the stars together!
