After two years of dedicated efforts, Soroptimist International (SI) is thrilled to announce the successful conclusion of its President’s Appeal, “Opening Doors to a Bright Future,” officially ending September 2023. The initiative, led by SI President Maureen Maguire, was a remarkable journey that transformed the lives of 3,000 women and girls across the world.
Launched on 1 October 2021, “Opening Doors to a Bright Future” was a heartfelt mission, and were the first projects to be launched under the new Soroptimist International Foundation.
The appeal established projects across the five Soroptimist Federations, spanning Cambodia, Uganda, Georgia, Trinidad and Tobago, Paraguay, and Malawi.
The appeal’s primary focus was education, recognising its pivotal role as a catalyst for sustainable development, peace, and equality. Investing in the education of women and girls was central to the initiative, aiming to break the cycles of poverty and stimulate economic growth.
The Appeal’s Key Objectives Included:
- Providing access to education in all its forms for disadvantaged and marginalized women and girls.
- Offering education in a safe, friendly, and supportive environment, promoting equality of opportunity.
- Developing mentoring programs to boost confidence, self-esteem, and the involvement of women and girls in society and decision-making.
- Enhancing access to information, educational resources, and services, empowering women and girls to make informed life choices.
The journey began with the launch of the first project in Cambodia in early 2022, titled ‘Education and Learning in Cambodia throughout the life course.’ Working in partnership with the Cambodian Community Dream Organization (CCDO), the project surpassed its initial targets, engaging 2,814 women and girls in its activities.
The second project, launched in Uganda’s Soroti District in August 2022, aimed to empower 30 out-of-school girls and young women, promoting education, life skills, and positive behavioural change.
The third project, In Georgia, Eastern Europe, launched in October 2022 and focused on improving life skills and employability for women and girls in a region where 74% of women experience intimate partner violence.
The fourth project, in collaboration with ‘Restore a Sense of I Can’ (RSC), aimed to bridge the gender digital divide and provide training and resources to women and girls in the Caribbean, addressing socio-economic and academic barriers.
The fifth project was based in Malawi. It was a transformative initiative which tackled child marriage, aiming to provide education and support to 150 local women who were child brides, transforming their attitudes toward education and improving their livelihoods.
The sixth and final project was a partnership between Soroptimist International and Fundación Moisés Bertoni (FMB) to construct a sports centre in Paraguay at the Mbaracayú Education Centre. The initiative empowers indigenous girls by providing technical education in Environmental Science and promoting their physical and mental well-being through sports.
SI President Maureen Maguire says., “I am very aware that there are many barriers that women and girls face in today’s world including poverty, gender-based violence, forced marriage and caring responsibilities to name just a few.
“As Soroptimists, we work to transform the lives and status of women and girls through education, empowerment and enabling opportunities.
“Investing in women and girls’ education and learning brings high rewards, breaking cycles of poverty and aiding economic growth. Education empowers women, girls, and their communities, delivering skills and knowledge, whilst increasing confidence; enabling women and girls to make informed decisions affecting future wellbeing, health, participation, and quality of life.
“‘Opening Doors to a Bright Future’ underlined the Soroptimist commitment to education throughout the life-course, and its immense power and fundamental role as a driver for sustainable development, peace, and equality.”
This two-year journey has left a lasting impact on thousands of lives, paving the way for brighter, more promising futures.