Soroptimist International GBI

Our Work

Programme Action

We call our voluntary work “Programme Action”. Programme Action is the reason for being a Soroptimist. It reflects the Vision and the Mission of Soroptimist International.

Vision

Soroptimist International is a vibrant, dynamic organisation for today’s professional and business women. We are committed to a world where women and girls together achieve their individual and collective potential, realise aspirations and have an equal voice in creating strong and peaceful communities worldwide.

Mission

Through international partnerships and a global network of members, Soroptimists inspire action and create opportunities to transform the lives of women and girls by: Advocating for equity and equality; Creating safe and healthy environments; Increasing access to education; Developing leadership and practical skills for a sustainable future.

Programme Focus

The SI Programme Focus is a set of goals and objectives which relates directly to the Programme Areas. This provides the structure, or “focus” of all our project work.

It is updated once every four years at the International Convention and was most recently updated in Glasgow in 2007.

Goals

Soroptimists will ensure that women and girls:

• Enjoy equity and equality
• Live in safe and healthy environments
• Have access to education
• Have leadership and practical skills

Objectives

1. Eliminate poverty and gender discrimination through ensuring women’s full social and economic rights (ESD)
2. End human trafficking and all forms of violence against women and girls (HSW)
3. Ensure access to health care for women and girls (Health)
4. Support programmes and policies that would eliminate HIV/AIDS, malaria, TB and other major diseases (Health)
5. Improve access to clean water, sanitation and essential food resources (ENV)
6. Mitigate the effects of climate change and integrate sustainability into personal choices and governmental policies and programmes (ENV)
7. Meet the needs of women and girls during and after armed conflicts, man-made and natural disasters (IGU)
8. Promote peaceful processes for conflict resolution through encouragement of intercultural and inter-racial tolerance and condemnation of all forms of genocide and terrorism (IGU)
9. Ensure equal access to education and training throughout their lifespan (ED)
10. Enable women’s advancement in management, politics and decision making (ESD)

Programme Action is divided into six Programme Areas. An Assistant Programme Director, elected for her specialist expertise, is responsible for each Programme Area.

Economic and Social Development (ESD): Sue Challoner
Education (ED): Helen Owen
Environment (ENV): Denise Staplehurst
Health: Rita Allen
Human Rights and the Status of Women (HSW): Patricia McChesney
International Goodwill and Understanding (IGU): Dot Hunter

As you will realise, good projects cover several, if not most, Programme Areas; consequently the six Assistant Programme Directors work together, with the Federation Programme Director, Hilary Ratcliffe, as a co-ordinated team.