On Thursday March 8th President Carol Townsend from SI Canterbury and Jan Tebbett from SI Thanet introduced a POW audience (Power of Women Festival) to the work of Soroptimist International at the Royal Temple Yacht Club, Ramsgate. Jan talked about the movement, some local and national projects and Carol told the audience how the Meru Women’s Garden Project is benefiting some of the poorest women-led households in Kenya. Carol also explained that the MWGP focussed entirely on providing opportunities for women and girls and fully embraced SIGBI’s Programme Focus Goals – to Educate, Empower and Enable. The Talk was well received and lots of questions opened up interesting discussion.              

Canterbury Soroptimists supported ‘Save the Children Canterbury’ at their annual Christmas coffee morning on December 2nd 2017. A festive atmosphere prevailed and the morning included home-made cakes and biscuits, cards/gifts to buy and a raffle and tombola.The money raised will support much needed funds for Save the Children’s important work both in the UK and overseas. Having supported Save the Children for many years, SI Canterbury and Save the Children Canterbury agreed a formal partnership earlier this year. Supporting their events is an important part of this agreement and so we were delighted that members were able to, not only attend but help out at the Coffee Morning. Congratulations go to the Save the Children board who organized the event and many thanks to those Soroptimists who were able to support it.

Canterbury Soroptimists joined thousands of others across the world to support the 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women. SI Canterbury joined with the Guilbenkian Theatre, Canterbury to organize an event throughout the 16 days. This included a showing of a short film before each main feature shown between 26th November and 9th December, a showing of ‘Tyrannosar’ and a panel discussion. A display of leaflets, photos and information about the Rising Sun Domestic Violence Unit and SI Canterbury’s banner was also displayed in the foyer of the theatre/cinema for the length of the 16 days. In addition, we proudly posted an ‘Orange’ photo on our facebook page on each of the 16 days to raise awareness amongst our friends, supporters and followers.                                 The ’16 Days’ was also recognised

Canterbury Soroptimists took part in the annual UN  Canterbury Peace Service in our cathedral on 29th October. President Carol and  club member Liz marched with representatives from local organisations. They then attended the service joined by club member Ruth. Excellent musical input and readings from local children were a highlight of the service which served to remind everyone of the much needed work to achieve peace in so many areas of our beautiful world.

President Carol and Past President Yvonne marched in the parade and laid a wreath at Canterbury’s Annual Service of Remembrance on November 12th. The march, of representatives from local groups including veterans associations, ended at the Buttermarket outside the Cathedral where wreaths were also laid by local dignitaries. This was followed by a service in the Cathedral also attended by members of the public including club members Jane and Dawn.  

The 83rd Conference of Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland in Cardiff, provided inspiring speakers, lively entertainment and friendship from across the federation for 1,500 Soroptimists including nine members of SI Canterbury. The conference, themed ‘Step Up, Lead the Way’, delivered keynote speakers Michael Kaufman (@WhiteRibbon_UK) and Mandy Hickson, (@MandyHickson). In addition we were treated to inspiring talks, from Rebecca Lewin, Director of Logistics & Procurement at Plan International and Dame Katherine Grainger, one of Britain’s most decorated female Olympians. Discussion sessions and club presentations provided further inspiration and, if that’s not enough, we were entertained by Aaron Pryce-Lewis, the Bristol Military Wives Choir and the Phil Dando Band and Singers at the opening and closing ceremonies.     Michael Kaufman, co-founder of the White Ribbon Campaign, the largest effort in the world of men working to end violence against women, gave a stimulating  presentation, “In Our Lifetimes – Engaging

SI Canterbury were delighted when a local Meet Up Group ‘Canterbury Eye’ offered to hold a quiz to raise funds for our federation project, the Meru Women’s Garden Project. Club member Jo, liaised with the group’s founders Eddy and Martin, and attended the event along with four other club members. Carol, our secretary and a member of our MWGP team, spoke about the project explaining the need to support women in this impoverished area of rural Kenya to establish a sustainable food garden enabling them to feed their families.   The event went very well with around 30 people making four teams. These came from Canterbury Eye and two local pub quiz teams, Village People and the Two Amigos as well as SI Canterbury. The quiz was fiercely contested but there was lots of laughter, especially at the Charades which was played in the quiz interval.

Canterbury members raised awareness of modern day slavery on Anti Slavery Day 2017. Manning an information stall on Canterbury High Street, members shared stories and statistics about the frequency and effects of slavery and trafficking in our local communities. Many shoppers and visitors were  shocked to learn about local prosecutions of traffickers who forced slaves to work in car washes and fruit farms. Kent is a transit hub for this terrible trade and local police have made slavery their highest priority, a fact which surprised some people.   SI Canterbury has an active Anti Trafficking team which works hard to raise awareness of the issue within our local community and beyond. As a club, we also support the Medaille trust, a charity which aims to end the trafficking and enslavement of women, children and men. They operate safe houses, including one in Kent, and outreach services providing support and

SI Canterbury had the pleasure of hosting and meeting a Soroptimist from SI Cobram, Baroga in Australia who was visiting our club as part of her Grant of Friendship trip offered by SI South East England. Jenny Gaylard enjoyed a day visiting our beautiful city in the company of club members Yvonne and Carol. During the day they walked the walls, strolled by the river and through the historic streets and visited Canterbury Cathedral, undoubtedly the highlight of the day.   In the evening club members gathered to celebrate her visit at a Bring and Share supper which gave everyone the chance to relax, chat and realise how much we all have in common.

      SI Canterbury members and members of Canterbury Save the Children board celebrated their formal partnership with a yoga session and lunch event in August. SI Canterbury has supported Save the Children Canterbury for many years and one of our members is Chair of Save the Children Canterbury and so a formal partnership clarifying and agreeing how we will work together and support each other in the future  made perfect sense. The yoga event, run by Cora of Save the Children, was a huge success and the Bring and Share lunch eaten in the sunshine of our secretary Carol’s garden rewarded members’ efforts. Many thanks to Carol and Cora for organising such a successful and fun day.