Soroptimist International GBI

SIGBI Programme Awards

Federation (SIGBI) Programme Action Awards were introduced in 2003 to honour the excellent work done by Clubs throughout our Federation. These are the most recent awards (2009) made to projects in the Federation.

ECONOMIC & SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT:

Winner: SI SURULERE NIGERIA for their project Soroptimist Charity & Craft Shop

The shop stocks art and craft items made by physically and mentally challenged children.

The club supports 2 schools for children with special needs, and has donated materials and machines to aid in the production of arts and crafts. In order to market the items SI Surulere rents a shop and sells to the general public.

All proceeds go to support the 2 schools. This has proved very successful the children have a sense of self worth and are learning skills which will help support them in the future.

Other nominations were:

SI Calcutta Downtown for their Micro Credit Project

This year the club has offered 5 loans for a period of 12 months.  The aim is to Empower Women enabling them to work their way out of poverty, start a small business and be able to provide for themselves and their families.

This has been a very successful project - the businesses are making a profit, the loans are being repaid and the beneficiaries are learning how to save.

SI Tynedale for their Rwandan Orphans Catering and Training Restaurant project.

This is a partnership project with SI Kigali Etoile in Rwanda, and European Soroptimists. The aim is to raise £9000 in 3 years to establish and manage a training restaurant in Rwanda, potentially training over 200 orphan students, SI Kigali Etoile will administer and manage the project.

SI Tyndale has established links with a local school and catering college who are now helping to raise funds for the project. This is opening a much valued avenue for exchange and experience with the students of both countries

Education

Winner: SI Karachi Central for their Book Bank Project.

This is an excellent partnership project with SI Bridgend. The Book Bank is one part of an extensive project that encourages young girls to remain in education. By paying fees and providing books the project gives girls the opportunity of an education that will enable them to work, supplement family incomes, and help lift them out of poverty.

Other nominations were:

SI Grahamstown for their Creative Education Projects.

The club has supported a range of imaginative projects that have given disadvantaged children and young people especially girls, the opportunities to develop self confidence and gain new skills through a variety of activities such as art, dance, team building and leadership skills.

SI Kandy for their Mid-day Meal Project

Children do not thrive and learn if they are undernourished. With the support SI St. Helens, SI Ormskirk, Soroptimists from Germany and private donations SI Kandy give a mid day meal to 90 children from very difficult homes. The children who are from a mix of faiths and beliefs have become happier, healthier and more able to achieve in and out of school. 

Environment

Winner: SI Anguilla for their project Say no to Plastics

In order to reduce the use of plastic bags and other plastic products SI Anguilla worked with the Anguilla National Trust and National Energy Committee to import reusable shopping bags and biodegradable products. They contacted grocery owners and obtained orders for reusable bags. They also found a supplier for biodegradable plates, cups, lunch takeaways, napkins, etc and took orders for these from the restaurants and groceries. Although it is a slow process there has been a good increase in the use of the reusable bags and they are starting to convince people about the biodegradable products.

They are now working with the government and hope the government will put a ban or tax on plastic products.

Other nominations were:

SI Stafford for their project Reducing our CO2 Emissions

This was a true SMART Project. (S – specific; M – measurable; A - agreed upon, attainable; R - realistic, relevant; T - time-based, tangible).

The aim of the project was to reduce the members’ CO2 emissions. A target was set to reduce their combined carbon emissions by 5 tonnes by World Environment Day 2009. A booklet was produced for each club member giving advice on how to reduce their carbon footprint. Each month members submit a questionnaire on any reductions they have made. This was then converted into kg of carbon using DEFRA conversion factors and bespoke spreadsheets. The figures for April 2009 show a total of 23 members taking part and the reported CO2 savings are now 11.62 tonnes of CO2. This is an average saving of 505kg. They now have 18 Diamond members who have made savings of over 200 kg of CO2.

SI Loughborough for their Sanitation project to provide toilets for a girls’ school in village near Calcutta

After reading an article in Soroptimist news stating that the lack of toilets meant girls did not attend school because they would have to use the bushes SI Loughborough contacted their friendship link SI Calcutta Downtown.  SI Loughborough held several fundraising events and sent the money to pay for the toilet block.

SI Calcutta Downtown gave charge to a local NGO to implement the construction of toilets. As a result school dropouts of girl students reduced drastically and other girls were motivated to join school as separate toilets were provided for them.

SI Loughborough have funds available to build another block of toilets and a local village has asked if they can provide funds for a pump well.

Health

Winner: SI Bulawayo for their Onandi Festival

The Club organised a walk demonstration to the City Hall where they performed drama, poetry and singing to spread the HIV and AIDS message. This is very important because of all the myths and mis-information surrounding the acquisition and spread of HIV and AIDS.

Other nominations were: 

SI Bombay West for their Health Projects

These included protheses for twelve patients suffering from breast cancer. 24 paraplegic patients were given counselling, physiotherapy and acupuncture at the Paraplegic Foundation.  These initiatives helped to improve the comfort and self-esteem of the people involved.

SI Asaba

28 schools in 16 centres within the 3 senatorial districts of Delta State Nigeria were selected to carry out the HIV/AIDS sensitisation campaign.  This was to scale up prevention of HIV and AIDS among the young people who are the work force of the nation.

HUMAN RIGHTS & THE STATUS OF WOMEN

Winner: SI Ipsae, Mauritius, for their Street Harassment Project

The Street Harassment of Women & Girls Project was set up with the aim of changing stakeholders’ development and implementation of policy of improving women’s safety and security in public.A sample of women and girls from 12 to 66 from various ethnic, religious, urban and rural backgrounds was used. After completing diaries and being interviewed, it was found that street harassment produces a culture of gender oppression and sexual terrorism.  Participants felt a real fear amounting to assault or rape.  The perpetetrators, either individually or in groups, came from all walks of life.  Workshops were held to teach the participants strategies for confronting the harassers, change boys’ and men’s behaviour and thus empower women and girls.

SI Ipswich & District for their Women’s Aid Outreach Service Project 

SI Ipswich & District wanted to offer more help to Ipswich Women’s Aid (their Project Partner) and offered to help with an Art Therapy course on a volunteer basis. The course was based on the USA Clothes Line Project where women decorate a shirt to demonstrate their experiences to promote the healing process. It is planned to display the shirts on 25 November, the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to promote the work of local Women’s Aid and Support Services.

SI Stockport for their Sanctuary Room for Victims of Violence Project. 

SI Stockport funded the transformation of a basic police interview room into a comfortably, softly furnished unit with all necessary facilities where victims of domestic violence, abuse and sexual assault can wait safely and be interviewed.  The Stockport Division of Greater Manchester Police identified furnishings and decoration.  It is estimated that  approximately 6,000 victims of domestic violence will use this room initially even if they are transferred to the Rape Crisis Centre or video suite later.

INTERNATIONAL GOODWILL AND UNDERSTANDING

Winner: SI Dewsbury for its project”Soroptimist You’re Hired!”

Five groups of nine members were given £10 to increase by any means.  One group, the Gold and Silver Threads, held 2 coffee mornings; the Fashion Divas sold new and nearly new clothes.  The Gourmet Fillies ran lunch and dinner parties where bookmarks were sold.  The Dewsbury Dynamos sold note-lets, marmalade and held a sponsored walk.  Wine Drinkers Anonymous held a coffee morning, sold greetings cards and held a Games Evening.  Altogether £1,900 was raised throughout the year for the National Association of SI Zimbabwe.

Other nominations were:

SI Kidderminster for their Christmas/Eid/Divali Party

There is a Bangladeshi community of about 500 people in Kidderminster which is isolated from the host community and therefore experiences disadvantage by being unable to access mainstream resources.  The Club’s aim was to help women from this community celebrate the Festivals of Christmas/Eid/Divali to promote community cohesion and enhance cultural understanding.  The Club donated gifts for the children of women who attended the party.  Some members organised games for the children whilst their mothers enjoyed pampering sessions.

SI Tunbridge Wells for its Overseas Women’s Welcome Leaflet

During a meeting with Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC), the need for a practical guide to living in Tunbridge Wells to welcome new residents from overseas, with a particular emphasis on the needs of women, had been identified.  A Sub- Committee was established to develop a comprehensive information booklet.   The Club had input into the initial drafts and made a number of amendments and additions, including a specific section on cultural differences and community building.  TWBC launched the completed booklet, including the Club’s inputs, in November 2008 in both hard and soft copy.

Congratulations to all the clubs who have been nominated!