Soroptimist International is affiliated with many different international projects on club, region and national levels. The following are just some of what SI does. For more information on Soroptimist International projects please go to www.soroptimistinternational.org
Cafe Femenino Project
Soroptimist Friday Harbor has a special project benefiting women in third world countries. Please click on the link in the left column titled Cafe Femenino Coffee Project for more information.
SI President’s Appeal 2012
Every year, on Human Rights Day (December 10), the President of Soroptimist International invites all Soroptimists to join her in supporting a specific project that is in line with the organization’s mission. The 2012 President’s Appeal, selected by International President Alice Wells, is Birthing in the Pacific – a project aimed at reducing the risk of maternal and infant mortality in Papua New Guinea by improving the maternity skills of midwives and nurses In this resource-poor country.
Papua New Guinea has the second worst maternal and infant mortality rate in Asia. And even though 88-98% of these deaths are preventable, 40% of the country’s rural clinics have closed. The money raised by our organization world-wide will be channeled into the three towns in PNG where Soroptimist clubs exist, and will be used primarily to increase the proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel — a factor widely recognized as the single most effective way of reducing maternal and infant mortality in developing nations.
Education is at the heart of this type of change, and thus the project directly supports the international organization’s current theme of “Educate to Lead.”
United Nations
Soroptimist International has a voice with the United Nations through the Economic and Social Council. This council oversees UN activities and policies promoting human rights. The ECOSOC provides a means for SI representatives to request council agenda items and contribute to other UN gatherings and seminars. Soroptimist International, along with other councils, divisions, agencies and institutes, work on promoting women’s rights, equality and the empowerment of women worldwide.
Soroptimist International has volunteer representatives at the major UN centers in New York City, Geneva and Paris. For more information go to our international website at www.soroptimistinternational.org and click on the tab ‘What we do’ and then go to United Nations.
