Eight members of SI Cannock & District travelled to the beautiful city of Edinburgh to attend the annual Soroptimist International of Great Britain & Ireland (SIGBI) conference at the beginning of November. They had an amazing time! They joined more than 500 women who share a common goal – to Educate Empower and Enable women and girls across the world. Indeed, this year Educate, Empower and Enable was the conference theme.
The SIGBI Federation has more than 5,000 members in over 250 clubs in 17 countries in Asia and the Caribbean as well as Great Britain and Ireland, many of them represented at the conference. It is a great opportunity to network; sharing successes and ideas and to rekindle old friendships and forge new ones.
The delegates heard from a member of the Steve Sinnott Foundation an international education charity that has supported Education for All across the world in a collaborative, reciprocal and sustainable way for more than 15 years. Her message was ‘Education is the great liberator’.
They were empowered by the amazing Baroness Floella Benjamin, an inspirational speaker who regaled everyone with her amazing life story. She left her audience with four words that she says describe how she lives her life – Consideration – of others, Contentment -with one’s lot, Confidence – to stride out, succeed and effect change and finally Courage – to try.
Finally they heard how a recipient of the SIGBI Diamond Education Grant had been enabled to write and publish her first novel despite battling with mental health issues for many years.
The conference ended with the welcoming of the new Region Presidents that will be in office for the coming year.
All agreed that they had had a fabulous time and can’t wait for next year!
Photo below. Members of SI Cannock & District in front of the flags of many of the nations in SIGBI
