Our Projects:Programme Action
1.Violence Against Women
We support the local Women’s refuge, providing a variety of goods,such as toiletries to help women and children through the difficult early stages of their new life.We have also held several fund raising events in the past to support this life transforming project.We also provide Christmas Presents to all the women who have to spend this season in the Refuge.
We also remain interested in the issue of the Trafficking of Women,and are looking at the Map of Gaps via our Lobbying Group
2.Lobbying Group
This group is a new one and has been formed to follow up work in support of the issues brought to our attention by the United Kingdom Programme Action Committee( UKPAC). We hope to be able to find a way to disseminate issues to club members and enable them to lobby MPs, MEPs and Government Ministers as well as Local Authorities to achieve our organisations long term aims.We are looking at the Map of Gaps, www.mapofgaps.org , dealing with the issue of the provision of Women’s Support Services,and supporting the UNICEF Campaign for improving sanitary arrangements in the developing world.
3.Project SIerra
Our big Quadrennial Project-please see the main SIGBI website for full details.In the past one of our members has arranged walks in aid of this project.The walks are local and not too far a distance,usually involve a tea or pub stop-sometimes both.If you would like to join one of the walks,please get in touch.
4.Licking Lassa Fever
Helping people in Sierrra Leone to reduce the incidence of Lassa Fever.We collect old,broken and unwanted jewellery of any description and pass it to another SI Club who are in partnership with other organisations to deal with this distressing disease.The jewelery is sorted by experts who are able to repair and sell on the items.If you have anything to donate please get in touch by email and we will arrange collection.Mosquito nets,food containers and education in hygiene will really have an impact on reducing the incidence of this fatal disease which continues to afflict people in the developing world.
5.Contact the Elderly
Several of our members act as hosts or drivers for this scheme. Two or three elderly people are given a drive out to the tea venue on a Sunday afternoon.They always enjoy listening to the stories of their guests who clearly love conversation and the chance to socialise in a different environment.
6.Dhaka Support
One of our Friendship Link Clubs runs several projects to help children enter mainstream education.The children are those who live on the street.We send regular donations to assist them.
With the HIV Aids being a concern,SI Dhaka used some of our donations to produce a DVD to be shown to groups in their society deemed to be at high risk of contracting the virus
7.Taki Concordia Conducting Fellowship Report
This group has now completed its work,which was to support the Taki Concordia Conducting Fellowship set up by Marin Alsop,the former Principal Conductor with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
In 2002, Marin set up the Taki Concordia Conducting Fellowship (TCCF) in order to help aspiring young female conductors achieve their aims.
In May 2006, we provided both financial support and hospitality to enable that year’s Fellow, Jeri Lynne Johnson, to spend a week working with Marin and the BSO here in southern England. This was in addition to a week in Colorado. It proved to be a great success.
In November 2006, we were delighted and privileged to have Marin conduct the specially formed Soroptimist International Youth Orchestra at a fundraising concert at Wimborne Minster. This was a wonderful opportunity for young musicians from the south-west of England to play under the baton of one of the world’s leading conductors (who happens to be a woman!) and the concert raised enough funds to support TCCF UK for several years to come.
Kelly Corcoran, the 2008 winner, came to Bournemouth in January that year. Her visit included a special luncheon at Poole Centre for the Arts attended by Soroptimists and Friends of BSO, at which Marin and Kelly were guests. The luncheon was followed by a Master Class and later that week, Kelly conducted the BSO in the Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg by Richard Wagner at a public performance in Portsmouth.
Marin Alsop has now moved on to become Music Director of one of America’s major orchestras, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
Over the period of our support a total of 4,370 was raised to assist TCCF and we are very proud to have worked with one of the world’s leading conductors to achieve this.
Marin Alsop remains an Honorary Member of our Club and is also Emeritus Conductor with the BSO.