Opening Doors to a Bright Future

‘Opening Doors to a Bright Future’ is the Soroptimist International (SI) President’s Appeal, 2021-2023, which officially launched on 1 October 2021.

The appeal is headed by SI President, Maureen Maguire, and is part of the Soroptimist International Foundation. The appeal has established projects in each of the five Soroptimist Federations, with projects up and running in Cambodia, Uganda, Georgia, Trinidad and Tobago, Paraguay and Malawi.

‘Opening Doors to a Bright Future’ has a strong focus on education, understanding its fundamental role as a driver for sustainable development, peace, and equality. We believe that investing in women and girls’ education brings high rewards, breaking cycles of poverty and aiding economic growth.

Our Projects

Support the President's Appeal

Share the Social Media Resources for “Opening Doors to a Bright Future” through your own channels available on the SIHQ Trello Board HERE

Plan a fundraiser to raise funds and drive awareness of the power of Education

Share the stories from our website

Purchase the ‘Opening Doors to a Bright Future’ pin

Get in touch with your thoughts, questions, fundraising photographs and video clips – we would love to see and hear your stories!

Email the SI Presidents Appeal team: president.appeal@soroptimistinternational.org

Appeal Objectives

Provide access to education in all its forms for disadvantaged and marginalised women and girls.

Provide education to women and girls in a safe, friendly, and stimulating environment where there is equality of opportunity and support for all.

Develop mentoring programmes that encourage confidence, self-esteem and increase the participation of women and girls in society and in decision-making.

Increase access to information, educational resources, and services, to empower women and girls to make informed life-choices.

A word from SI President Maureen Maguire:

“Education is the tool to tackle multiple barriers faced by women and girls today. Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, progress was visible in the delivery of quality education around the world, however, the past 17 months, has taken a toll, with UNICEF estimating 156 million children and young people are out of school. Of these, six out of 10 have no access to basic literacy and numeracy.

Estimates further suggest 750 million adults are illiterate, with many living in poverty, facing marginalisation, and disadvantage. Inequitable access to educational resources and learning is exacerbated by the digital divide, and as such, opening the door to education is an essential goal in each of our Appeal projects. This criterion will allow us to meet our proposed, measurable objectives, driving real change and lasting impact to families, and the local and broader communities where we work.”