"When we work together as the Global Network we are very powerful."

"One of the things that I love the most
about being a Soroptimist is the international or global aspect, getting to
meet women from around the world and having an immediate bond because we know
we share similar passions.

Being a Soroptimist here in New York has
afforded me the amazing experience of being a SI Representative to the United
Nations/New York Centre. I have had the opportunity through this important work
done by civil society, the UN bodies and Member States to promote gender
equality, to end violence against women, to work on climate issues… all key
points for women around the world. I have made friends worldwide and I have
been lucky enough to be able to travel to many countries and see the countries
through the eyes of my colleagues. (See
previous blog written by Dora & I) LINK.

Being in NY, many Soroptimists do come here
on holiday and reach out to NY Club members, during the Commission on the
Status for Women (CSW), The UN is flooded with around 100 or more Soroptimists
from all parts of the globe. So connecting with Soroptimists is not an unusual
happening for me. I have made many SI friends that I have visited or keep up
with on Facebook and Skype but I recently had one of the most incredible
experiences that brings home to me how small this world really is and how the
United Nations does connect to even the smallest of SI clubs.

My husband and I went to our beloved island
of Sint Maarten/Saint Martin for our thanksgiving holiday. This is a place we have visited frequently over the last 15 years. I had never
even thought about looking up to see if there was a Soroptimist Club on the
island, however this time by some odd coincidence whilst waiting at the car rental place,
I was flipping through ‘Discover’ magazine and there I found this article about
Jacqueline Hamlet: “A Woman Helping Women”, as I scrolled down the article I
found out that Jackie was a Soroptimist…. You can imagine my surprise and my
delight!  I had to find the club.

 

Image: President Marlene Petit and Past President Jacqueline Hamlet looking at an article published onm 25 November – World
Orange Day.

After some sleuthing on the SI websites and
Google, I finally found an email address for the club, I quickly jotted off a
note to the club explaining I was a UN rep and could we meet! I was pleasantly
surprised that in fact even with the short notice they had coordinated an
evening with 9 club members, my husband and myself.  We were honored to meet Marlene Petit
(President), Jackie Hamlet (Immediate Past President), Ammique Bryan (Founding President) and dear Rosie Nicolas, who arranged this meeting.

 

Image: Club T Shirt

I learned all about the club; whilst small
in number, how active they are. As a territory of France they are part of the
French Union and they participate in the monthly themes such as violence against women, human trafficking… I happened to be on the Island on 25 November (World
Orange Day) and they were written up in the local newspaper.

I was amazed to learn how much they knew
about SI’s work at the UN, they knew about the SDGs and how important and
interconnected the work they do on the island is with the work I do at the
global level.  We discussed the
trafficking issues right there on their island paradise and domestic violence
and what they as Soroptimists were doing to combat it. They wanted to know all
about my work and we had a very lively dialogue. Surprisingly, we had much in
common – the woman from the big city and the women from this French territory
in the Caribbean.

 

Image: Club Banner

I write this blog because Soroptimists
often struggle to understand the connection or importance of having a presence
at the United Nations and how it relates to the SI or their Federation Mission.
Why SI has 16 UN reps at UN Centres around the world. Often Soroptimists don’t
see the link to their club projects. I have seen this with my own club and
Federation.

However, over the last few years I have
seen a noticeable change within my own Federation (SIA), club members are clamoring
to learn more about the UN and the SIA leadership has been responding positively
to this switch in focus. Women like Sharon Fisher, Alice Wells, Cheri Fleming, and Bev Bucur have stepped up to help clubs
understand that they are part of a larger international organization with a
greater purpose.

 

Image:  ‘Walk to Eat’ – Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The regular club members from around the
world, who pay their own way to come to NY to attend CSW go back to their clubs
bringing the message that while each club and their own projects are important
it is the fact that we all fit together into this global mechanism that makes SI
as a global network unstoppable. Each one of our clubs builds on each other and
our name and the work we do is well recognized at the United Nations.  

When we work together as the Global network
we are very powerful. The work done collaboratively by the 16 SI UN Reps, the
staff at Headquarters (Francesca, Deborah & Sarah) along with the SI
Board & Officers has enabled us to write incredibly strong position papers.
We have been able to reestablish links to other large women’s organizations to
produce joint statements at the UN.

But as my trip to St Martin reminds me none
of this would be possible without the women at the club levels, so it is one
big circle! And personally one I’m pleased to be representing at the UN".