Soroptimist International (SI) Guwahati was chartered on 2nd October 2024 as the 21st SI Club in India, at a ceremony held at the Faculty Senior Secondary School Auditorium, Guwahati. The event, graced by the virtual presence of Ruth Healey, President of Soroptimist International Great Britain & Ireland (SIGBI), marked the inception of this vibrant new club of 14 members from different professions that joins the global Soroptimist movement of nearly 70,000 women across 118 countries to work toward empowering women and girls to reach their full potential and build peaceful communities.
The ceremonial collaring of Dr. Mitali Goswami as Founder President was performed by Naina Shah, President Elect National Association of NASI India along with Anitha Rajarajan, Assistant Programme Director at SIGBI, Organisation Development & Membership Officer NASI India. In her congratulatory message, Anitha praised the leadership of Dr. Goswami and the dedication of the SI Guwahati team, describing it as “the beginning of a powerful journey that will undoubtedly change lives.” The event was graced by Chef Guest, Nandinee Kalita, Former Head of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Assam, who in her Keynote address, shared insights on the economic evolution of the Northeast region, particularly the rise of women entrepreneurs in rural areas as part of the service sector that contributes majorly to the GDP, and emphasized the vital role SI Guwahati can play in empowering women to contribute in the region’s development. Representatives from six SI clubs across India—Madurai, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Chennai, Delhi and South Kolkata attended the charter ceremony, reinforcing the solidarity and shared mission of Soroptimist clubs nationwide.
Congratulatory messages were received from SI members from around the world. Siew Yong Gnanalingam, SI President, conveyed her congratulations to SI Guwahati, expressing her pride in welcoming them to the international Soroptimist sisterhood. She emphasized the organization’s century-long dedication to helping women and girls realize their potential and urged the club to build strong global connections within this powerful movement. Hafdís Karlsdóttir, President of Soroptimist International of Europe (SIE) hailed the charter as a significant milestone, contributing to the empowerment of women worldwide. Nisha Ghosh, President of NASI India, extended her heartfelt greetings and shared her excitement about the establishment of SI Guwahati in the far eastern part of India. She encouraged the club to uphold the Soroptimist vision and mission in the region, drawing strength from the network of clubs in India.
Since its inception in September 2023, SI Guwahati has already undertaken six impactful outreach activities, largely in collaboration with the Department of English of the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya. These initiatives align with eight of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and include:
- Talk on Health and Childcare Awareness on World Peace Day (21st September 2023) in Umduba village, Ri-Bhoi district, Meghalaya.
- Distribution of First Aid Box to schoolchildren in Umduba village (26th September 2023) on the Foundation Day of National Service Scheme.
- Mime Act titled ‘Hidden Pandemic’ on domestic violence, performed at Assam State Zoo, Guwahati (16th March 2024).
- ‘Empower Her’ Workshop on gender sensitization, finance, and education for housemaids in Guwahati (26th May 2024).
- Plantation Drive in Umduba village (5th August 2024), distributing saplings of fruit to local women.
- Financial Literacy Awareness Programme in collaboration with Axis Bank and Sishu Bikash Kendra (1st October 2024), enhancing financial and digital skills of female staff and educators.
Soroptimist International Guwahati invites women who share its vision to join the movement. By empowering women and girls, the club seeks to create sustainable social change and a brighter future for the community.