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Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2022 – Breast Cancer Screening

Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2022 – Breast Cancer Screening

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Breast cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer deaths in women worldwide. Approximately 1 in 8 women during their lifetime will develop breast cancer.   Over the past few decades, mammograms have been the mainstay of screening patients with no symptoms, in an attempt to detect cancers early. Yet, it is common for women to be nervous when it comes to getting mammograms. Many women fail to benefit from mammograms because of: Assuming everything is fine because there is no lump Fears of discomfort during the procedure A previous negative personal experience with breast cancer Fears over the results of a mammogram But this should not keep us from having them done. It is important to remember: Mammograms have helped to increase the detection of breast cancer at early stages AND have helped to decrease mortality from this disease by almost 20% With advances
It’s okay to be small. 56, 17, 67.

It’s okay to be small. 56, 17, 67.

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In May, we had an idea to collect used handbags, fill them with hygiene and beauty products and donate them to less fortunate women whose budgets had no room for personal care items. We set a loose goal of 100 bags. We raised enough funds for 56. Over the July-August vacation, we did mentorship sessions with 17 girls, educating them at the point where school sometimes stops: finances, career paths, mental and physical health. We tried to encourage their goals, to widen their dreams, to push them toward excellence. In August, we did our usual Back to School project where we managed to fill the booklists for 67 children from less fortunate homes. I’ve heard it said that numbers like these are so minimal, that they ought not to be bothered with. That unless our leaders allocate more funds to education, and poverty eradication, our
A Sunday To Remember – Visit by SIGBI Director of PR and Marketing, Nisha Ghosh

A Sunday To Remember – Visit by SIGBI Director of PR and Marketing, Nisha Ghosh

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It was finally Sunday 21st August 2022 and our excitement had reached a pinnacle as it was the day we were meeting our SIGBI Director of PR and Marketing and Soroptimist Sister, Nisha Ghosh from SI Pune Metro East. Our club members had meticulously planned a fun filled day to share with her small pieces of SIAN and by extension South Trinidad. The morning started at the Wild Fowl Trust, where we introduced Nisha to our latest project, our Pollinator Garden. This project spoke to the importance of pollinators and their crucial role in our ecosystem. It was the passion to the environment that inspired some of members to spearhead this project and it was truly a success. We thoroughly enjoyed sharing this garden with Nisha as it showcased a product of one of our club’s ideals; choosing projects which our members are passionate about
When Passion Meets Purpose, We Can Create Magic

When Passion Meets Purpose, We Can Create Magic

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The term “Soroptimist” can be best interpreted as “the best for women”; it was coined from the Latin “soror” meaning sister and “optima” meaning best. In 1921 a group of over 80 business and professional women from California, banded together to form the first Soroptimist club. Their purpose was debating service projects and hearing speakers on worldwide issues that would inspire and broaden members’ horizons. While their initial work focused on the preservation of “ancient trees” their efforts soon turned to the growing concerns for women in their community. In the years that followed, many similar clubs sprung up unknown to each other until upon discovery, they finally joined together to form the international organization we know today – Soroptimist International. This organization consists of 3000 clubs across five federations, which boasts Category 2 Consultative Status with Economic and Social Council, United Nations! SI Anaparima
Soroptimism – Dreaming Of and Working Towards a Better World

Soroptimism – Dreaming Of and Working Towards a Better World

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“I raise my voice not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard. We cannot succeed when half of us are held back.” - Malala Yousafzai   At the current rate of progress, it will take another 108 years to reach gender parity, according to the 2018 World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap report, which benchmarks 149 countries on their progress towards gender parity across four thematic dimensions—Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment.   That is a long time for women to face inequalities! We should not have to live in a world designed to limit our endless potential. According to Sheryl Sandberg, we need “to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women's voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored."   I dream of a day where my
The Gaia Element – Women at the heart of Climate Action

The Gaia Element – Women at the heart of Climate Action

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She has been called by many names throughout the ages; Terra Mater was coined by the early Romans, while the goddess Gaia was rooted in Greek mythology. She is the all-powerful energy that gives birth to nature, creating everything that exists within it. It is this fundamental concept that solidifies my belief that women play a key role in climate action. In many instances however, that critical female representation is often absent where design, decision making and implementation is concerned. The UN Women website cites “Because women possess unique knowledge and experience, particularly at the local level, their inclusion in decision-making processes is critical to effective climate action.” It is because of our inherent ability to nurture, I daresay, women are by and large the missing element in this fight to restore and protect our planet. Research has shown that there is a clear correlation