For the last two years we have been working, across our Federations worldwide, to raise awareness of the ways we can bring cervical cancer to an end. Soroptimists work to five charitable objects and health is a critical one. We know that women’s health issues are not prioritised sufficiently and ill health can disproportionately affect women because it impacts on their caring roles, their reproductive health and of course impacts on their ability to take their place in the workforce. While all health concerns are important under the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 3 – Good Health and Well-Being, we have turned our attention to cervical cancer because it is one of the most preventable cancers, yet it remains a significant health threat to women worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women, with hundreds of

Soroptimists believe progress happens when women take action. This International Women’s Day, we stand united to challenge injustice, confront inequality and transform systems that fail women and girls. We are calling for ‘Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.’ Find out more about our work:  http://sigbi.org/what-we-do/our-work  

Protecting women also means vaccinating men. The World Health Organisation is clear: we cannot end HPV if we only vaccinate girls. HPV doesn’t just cause cervical cancer. It’s also responsible for throat, mouth, anal and penile cancers in men. Men can carry and pass on HPV even without symptoms – making female-only vaccination programmes incomplete. Click here to read more about the importance of this vaccine for men. Soroptimists are raising the alarm: every eligible boy and man should be offered – and encouraged to take – this life-saving vaccine. Find out more: https://sigbi.org/what-we-do/our-work/health/cervicalcancer

In lieu of sending Christmas cards to one another, members collected/funded a selection of goods for Cambridge Women’s Aid, including toiletries, children’s pants, socks and pyjamas, women’s pyjamas and slippers. These items will be used to support those seeking a safe refuge, who frequently arrive with few/no possessions. For further information on the work of Cambridge Women’s Aid click here: https://cambridgewa.org.uk/

Over the summer the club had a speaker from Cambridge Refugee Resettlement Campaign, a charity set up to help refugees settle into their new environment. They are currently supporting 144 families from Ukraine, Afghan, Eritrea, Syria, Sudan – many are single parents. Many of the refugees had previously made clothes for their family and the speaker highlighted the need for sewing machines so they could continue to do so. A total of 11 sewing machines, plus material and haberdashery items were donated by members and friends. For further information about the charity and details of how to donate visit CRRC’s website: https://www.cambridgerefugees.org/

In February club treasurer Claire and her husband visited Bruges and met with members of the Bruges club, one of our three friendship link clubs. A very good lunch and lots of conversation served to renew the link, which had become slightly neglected during the pandemic. Among the party were two members of SI Bruges who had been to our club’s 60th anniversary celebrations in 2007 and had fond memories of the visit.