Across the world thousands of Soroptimists marked International Women’s Day with hundreds of activities and events on and around 8 March 2012 – see below for a list of just some of them! Our greatest admiration goes to the women in countries where just gathering like this can put their lives at risk.

Activities were organised to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women, and to raise awareness of work still to be done to build a better world for women and girls www.internationalwomensday.com

Many Soroptimists joined Women for Women International www.womenforwomen.org.uk  with “Join me on Bridge” events.

“Join me on the Bridge” is the coming together of women and men around the world, united in taking a stand for PEACE and women’s EQUALITY www.joinmeonthebridge.org.  You can register on the website and share a message of peace – and check out all the Soroptimists in the photos www.joinmeonthebridge.org/photo and also the blog post on the Women for Women International website www.joinmeonthebridge.org/profiles/blogs/soroptimists-activated-international-women-s-day

Now you can see how much fun we all had – put the date in your diary for next year now!

“Join me on the bridge” events:  www.joinmeonthebridge.org

SI Anglesey walk across the Menai Bridge – met Soroptimists from Bangor, South Caernafon and Dolgellau and local girl guides pictured here carrying white balloons and banners www.sigbi.org/anglesey 

SI Barrow in Furness, Walney Bridge www.sigbi.org/barrow-in-furness Pictured here:

 

 

 

SI Bristol stood on TWO bridges; pictured here on the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge and then to Perot’s Bridge on the Harbourside inviting women to join them in saying no to war and yes to peace! www.bristolsorop.org.uk 

SI Cape of Good Hope Cape Town  www.soroptimist.co.za/club_cape.html

SI Cheshire, North Wales and Wirral – pictured here on the Clock Bridge, Chester www.sigbi.org/cheshire/ 

SI Cheltenham & District  Pictured here “On the Bridge” in Beechwood Shopping Centre, Cheltenham. www.sigbi.org/cheltenham-and-district

SI Durban - bridge of the 2010 soccer World Cup stadium www.soroptimist.co.za/club_durban.html 

SI The Fylde – Ornamental Gardens Bridge South Promenade, St Annes  – pictured here wearing red, white and blue www.sigbi.org/the-fylde

 

 

SI Glasgow City & SI Paisley,7 Bridges Walk: pictured here at the start of the 2 mile walk along and across the River Clyde starting in the heart of Glasgow at Albert Bridge and ending at Bells Bridge. Soroptimists joined by Girl Guides and MSPs.  www.glasgowcitysoroptimist.club.officelive.com/default.aspx

 

 

 

 

 

SI of Hallamshire/Sheffield  ‘Bridge the World’ pictured here on the bridge over the River Derwent in Chatsworth Park www.sigbi.org/hallamshire-sheffield/

SI Keighley, Bridges of Friendship Evening: Soroptimists on-going project partnering a group of Asian mothers at a local Primary School. The two groups of women hosted a Friendship Evening, building more bridges between other women’s organisations and local communities and celebrating the achievements of women.

 

SI Karachi Central, 2 events – Thursday on the pier bridge at Port Grand and Sunday pictured here on Kolachi pier and bridge this was followed by a trip to the Manora Island for a picnic.

 

SI Llandudno & District, Conwy Suspension Bridge: will be joined on the march by other clubs from Cheshire and North Wales. www.sigbi.org/llandudno-and-district/

 

 

London – pictured here are  some of the many Soroptimists from Clubs in the 4 Regions surrounding London and from all over who joined the march at the Millennium Bridge to  march over the bridge and down the embankment was 1000 strong. The event ended at the Royal Festival Hall with rallying speeches from Bianca Jagger, Cherie Blair and many other inspirational women. www.sigbi.org/london-anglia www.sigbi.org/london-chilterns  www.soroptimist-gbi-see.org.uk/  www.sigbi.org/southern-england/

SI Morpeth and District Pictured here on the Chantry footbridge www.morpeth-soroptimists.org.uk/ 

SI Newport & District Pictured here on the Newport City Footbridge / University Plaza followed by  ”A Celebration of diversity and culture”  at The Riverfront Theatre Newport www.sigbi.org/newport-and-district

New York – Pat Black, President-Elect Soroptimist International Great Britain & Ireland, pictured here on the march over the Brooklyn Bridge in New York.

SI Northampton & District - pictured here on Black Lion Hill Bridge outside Northampton Railway Station  www.sigbi.org/northampton/

SI Penrith & District, Aira Force Waterfall www.sigbi.org/penrith-and-district

SI Pretoria pictured here on the Masekane Bridge in Mamelodi, Tshwane, then to Tateni for interactive discussions with carers about Healthy Relationships www.soroptimist.co.za

SI St Austell & District pictured here on the bridge over the St Austell Railway Station at Trevarthian road www.sigbi.org/st-austell-and-district

SI St Helens,  Saints Bridge St Helens wore white for peace on www.sigbi.org/st-helens

SI South East England – on the famous Sussex Bridge ‘Pooh Sticks Bridge’ and walk to the ‘Miracle’ Cliffe Bridge in Lewes  www.soroptimist-gbi-see.org.uk

SI Southend & District, Pier Hill Southend, Soroptimists with other women’s groups and students from the school 6th forms and colleges www.sigbi.org/southend-on-sea-and-district/

SI South Lancashire – members of SI Southport, Bootle, Crosby, Liverpool and Leigh on the Marine Way Bridge Southport pictured here raising awareness for Ovarian Cancer www.sigbi.org/south-lancashire/

SI Swindon & District,  Pedestrian bridge across Fleming Way, Swindon www.sigbi.org/swindon-and-district

SI Slough Windsor & Maidenhead - Windsor and Eton Bridge www.sigbi.org/slough-windsor-and-maidenhead/ 

SI Stourbridge, SI Solihull and SI Kidderminster all from SI Midland Arden Region pictured here on the bridge at Himley Hall www.sigbi.org/stourbridge/ www.si-solihull.org.uk/ www.sigbi.org/kidderminster-and-district/ www.sigbi.org/midland-arden/

 

 

 

 

 

More Soroptimists’ International Women’s Day events:

SI Birkenhead, 6^th Form Breakfast 6 girls from each of the  6^th form schools on the Wirral. www.birkenheadsoroptimists.co.uk

SI Bradford annual IWD Lunch for the Lord Mayor’s Appeal – Member Marion Le Pla received the first ever Bradford Woman of Year Award: Pictured here:

 

SI Colombo, Sri Lanka –  pictured here holding a “tea party”! for the elderly ladies at St. Nicholas’ home in Colombo.

 

SI Croydon & District, held the final of the annual LOUD & PROUD public speaking competition for year 6 girls (see picture). They also held a “Celebrating Women’s Achievements”. Friendship Supper, at The Chateau, Coombe Lane, Croydon. Speaker:Helen Fawkes, a BBC correspondent., Charity: CCAT – Croydon Community Against Trafficking  www.sigbi.org/croydon-and-district

SI Dewsbury – Celebration with speaker Mrs Ann Cryer Former MP for Keighley www.sigbi.org/dewsbury

SI Easter Ross, Ladies Highland Lunch at Kincraig Castle Hotel. International Best Selling Author, Anne Perry,  addressed the audience of Soroptimists, Girl Guides and dignitaries including Mary Scanlon MSP www.sigbi.org/easter-ross See picture:

SI Ellesmere Port - joined Students at the West Cheshire College(Ellesmere Port Campus) celebration with motivational speakers and music and students reading poems (pictured here)  www.sigbi.org/ellesmere-port-and-district/

SI The Fylde, “Speak Up For Women” Conference  The Hilton Hotel, Blackpool www.sigbi.org/the-fylde Picture shows Linda Beddows addressing the conference.

 

SI Garstang , marking International Women’s Day and Ovarian Cancer Awareness Week pictured here at Sainsburys in Garstang.  www.mywyre.co.uk/si-garstang 

SI Gravesend, Health Awareness morning with speaker on Ovarian Cancer  www.sigbi.org/gravesend

SI Great Yarmouth – pictured here with guests at their International Evening www.sigbi.org/great-yarmouth/ 

SI  Harrogate and District, Human Rights - Wesley Chapel, Harrogate – Baroness Caroline Cox, pictured here, world renowned campaigner against oppression and persecution, spoke about challenges to human rights in today’s world.   The event raised over £500 for Baroness Cox’s charity HART (Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust).   www.siharrogateanddistrict.org.uk

Kathmandu –  rally in association with the National Women Commission, Nepal

 

SI Llandudno & District, Conference on Violence Against Women in partnership with nfwi-wales (National Federation of Women’s Institutes)  Town Hall, Llandudno, www.sigbi.org/llandudno-and-district/

SI Newcastle, Musical Evening:  presenting Castle Centenary Choir & Knutton St. Mary’s Primary School Choir – Song Birds (Pictured here), at St. Giles Church, Newcastle, proceeds to Julia House Women’s Refuge  www.sigbi.org/newcastle-and-district/

SI Newport & District “Lady In Red” play, by the CC Theatre Company at the Dolman Theatre www.sigbi.org/newport-and-district/

New York – Pat Black, President-Elect Soroptimist International Great Britain & Ireland, pictured here on the march organised by UN Women for the Commission on Status of Women delegates.

SI Pretoria and SI Tshwane joint activity - put posters on cars, drove to a local township and then held a discussion with a group of young women on healthy relationships www.soroptimist.co.za  See picture of Join me on the Bridge event before the drive.

SI Skipton in Craven will be served teas for “Contact the Eldery” www.sigbi.org/yorkshire

SI South Africa presentation at the Pretoria Diplomatic Spouses Association meeting on the status of women in South Africa www.soroptimist.co.za

SI Stafford, International Women’s Day event  ’Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures’ at Staffordshire University  www.sigbi.org/stafford  & www.staffs.ac.uk/events/index.jsp

SI Wales South, Swansea – National costume parade, music and dance, refreshments. This event arranged in partnership with SI Wales South and South West Wales Indian Society. www.sigbi.org/wales-south

SI Wrexham, Coffee Morning: to raise awareness of the Purple teardrop Campaign to stop human trafficking www.purpleteardrop.org.uk/