Six members of SI Beverley and District travelled to Liverpool to attend the 84th Conference of Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland.
The event was attended by representatives of all regions of the SIGBI family and introduced us to speakers, and reports on Soroptimist activities, from around the world.
Below is the programme of Reports and Speakers that we listened to over the three days. Further information on each of these projects is available on the SIGBI website.
As well as information and updates on the work of Soroptimists, we met and enjoyed the company of friends old and new and left feeling re-energised and excited about the coming year. Plans were formulated and ideas were shared that we can take back to our clubs for future projects.
* indicated a project report
Thursday
Welcome by outgoing President Susan Biggs.
Entertainment by ‘Brothers of Swing’
Friday
Emily Rose Yates
*Programme Project – The Kori Project
Terry Waite CBE
*Dr Anne-Marie Wilson ‘28 too many’
*Programme Project – FGM
*Programme Project – Education
Mariet Verhoef-Cohen International President 2017-19
*Programme Project – Water
The SIGBI Project for 2019-2022 will be Empowering Girls in Nepal
*Ellie Bird Lenawarungu – Amuka Foundation providing Sanitary bags for girls @£10 each
*Programme Action Project – Tomorrow’s Women
Sally Kettle – Rowing the Atlantic
*Programme Project – Tadpole Swimming Club
*Professor Helen Pankhurst – CARE
*Programme Action Project – 100years of the Vote (Vote100)
*Programme Action Project update – MERU Garden Project
Invitation to the SI Convention 2019 in Kuala Lumpur
*Toilet Twinning – Lorraine Kingsley
SIGBI Best Practice Awards
Advocacy
SI Durham – Citizenship Trust
SI San Fernando – Single Use Plastic – winner
SI Madurai Hydro dynamics
Economic Empowerment
SI Kenilworth – Sick Children in Malawi
SI Manchester – HEAL in Malawi – winner
SI Katmandu – Tailoring Project
Education
SI Garstang – Cassroom in Nepal
SI Cannock – Your body Your Rules – winner
SI Llandudno – U need in Pakistan
Environmemnt
SI Madurai – Waste Management – winner
SI St Albans – Tree planting
SI San Fernando – Single Use Plastic
Health
SI San Fernando – Endometriosis
SI Bilston – Cardiac Screening – winner
SI Great Yarmouth – Neat Feet Happy Hands
Violence against Women
SI Lichfield and Dis – Violence in Football crowds
SI Yaounde – Girls not Brides – winner
SI Scarborough and Halifax – Operation Stella
Overall winner – SI San Fernando – Single Use Plastic
Bev Bucar International Director of Advocacy
Sir Ranulph Fiennes OBE
Presidential Address by Susan Biggs
Change of Insignia –
Sue Biggs hands over the Chain of Office for SIGBI to Sue Williams, and Chris Clark hands over the reigns of SI Yorkshire to Pat Kilbane,
Inaugural Address by Sue Williams Federation President 2018-19
‘The Theme for the year is ‘Think on it’ which focuses on our own well being and the mental health of the girls and women we support. We will be challenging clubs to come up with ideas and projects to support the theme both within and beyond their own clubs. ‘
President Sue urged us to arrange the following activities in support of the Theme – Think on it.
One event in the year to celebrate the well being of members
One event in the year to highlight mental health issues.
Handover of the Soroptimist International Flag from Liverpool to Bournemouth.
Next year we shall be at Bournemouth.