Soroptimists focus on transforming the lives of women and girls locally, nationally and globally through education, empowerment and enabling opportunities across five main areas which are:
· Access to learning and training
· Economic empowerment and employment
· Ending of violence and participation in conflict resolution
· Ensuring food security and access to health care
· Environmental sustainability
We do this through project work, where we lobby for change in laws and statutory provision, raise funds for projects or charities and offer service and support to local organisations. Soroptimists generally refer to this work as Programme Action and it is regularly reported to the United Nations, which recognises our organisation as championing the interests of women around the world. We have UN representatives in all the main centres and lobbyists at Westminster and the devolved national assemblies.
Members of SI Cambridge support a wide variety of projects, current campaigns include stopping violence against women, trafficking women for the sex industry, female genital mutilation and forced marriage.
Internationally we have supported projects in many countries including Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, The Gambia, Bangladesh, Rwanda, Syria and Nepal. These projects have helped women train for jobs, establish small businesses, recover from natural disasters, support landmine victims, improve maternal healthcare and provide clean safe drinking water.
It’s not only what we do but how we do it that matters to Soroptimists. We approach our work and service with care and friendship of like-minded women, with a wide range of knowledge and opportunities to stretch our own abilities.