CELEBRATING 90 PLUS YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY
Welcome to SI Edinburgh’s news of our activities.
As members of Soroptimist International our work is focused on supporting women and girls in any way we can from local to international. At SI Edinburgh we also experience the warmth of international friendship and enjoy social activities.
Scottish Soroptimists are taking action and calling for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
On the 25th of every month Scottish Soroptimists draw attention to the worldwide UN campaign “Say NO – UNiTE to end violence against women and girls by 2030.
The campaign is known internationally as “Orange the World”.
Violence against women and girls, from sexual harassment to abuse and femicide needs to be stopped!
Our action, “Orange cafés” is simple but conveys a powerful and visible message.
The “Orange cafés” were set up by Edinburgh Soroptimists in the Summer of 2022 and they are spreading!
On the 25th of each month, Soroptimist groups across Scotland are meeting up in a public café, wearing something orange, to raise awareness and spread the word about this important campaign.
The action has attracted interest from as far afield as Barbados!
Women are welcome to join us for a chat, to find out more or to find out about support provided locally for women and girls affected by violence.
Edinburgh Soroptimists took this photograph at our recent meeting to publicise the campaign.
Our Orange Cafe Campaign meets SIGBI Membership Month
SI Edinburgh members are delighted that the Orange Cafe idea has spread across all parts of the SIGBI Federation now and is being used as one of the promotions for Soroptimist Membership month.
Why not join us for a cup of coffee, some good craich and learn more about how we try to change the lives of women and girls for the better.
The following is the press release which has been sent out to all clubs in Scotland for them to publicise their own activities.
Soroptimists across Scotland ORANGE THE WORLD!
Scottish Soroptimists are taking action and calling for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
On the 25th of every month Scottish Soroptimists draw attention to the worldwide UN campaign “Say NO – UNiTE to end violence against women and girls by 2030. The campaign known internationally as “Orange the World”.
Violence against women and girls, from sexual harassment to abuse and femicide needs to be stopped!
Our action, “Orange cafés” is simple but conveys a powerful and visible message. The “Orange cafés” were set up by Edinburgh Soroptimists in the Summer of 2022 and they are spreading! On the 25th of each month, Soroptimist groups across Scotland are meeting up in a public café, wearing something orange, to raise awareness and spread the word about this important campaign. The action has attracted interest from as far afield as Barbados!
Women are welcome to join us for a chat, to find out more or to find out about support provided locally for women and girls affected by violence.
Edinburgh Soroptimists recently met up in the National Portrait Gallery café to publicise the campaign.
To find out more take a look at our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/SIEdinburghScotland/ or contact us through our website https://sigbi.org/edinburgh/contact-us/
Getting to be an Orange fixture
Club members are making a splash every month wearing orange, talking to visitors to the Scottish Portrait Gallery as well as socialising and catching up on news. Why not join us to raise awareness of the increasing levels of violence against women and girls?
Keeping the Orange Campaign Alive!
Club members decided to meet at a cafe every month on 25th day wearing orange to continue to raise awareness of the need to eliminate violence against women and girls. Too many news items are being reported of attacks and killings which must be halted. We encourage members of the public to join us in this campaign. If you want to know more check out the website
https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/unite/16-days-of-activism
For the next few months we are having morning coffee at the National Portrait Gallery and everyone is welcome to join us but please wear something orange.
And it isn’t just in Edinburgh – other clubs in other towns and cities are taking up the idea.
Supporting Women @ Christmas
The annual fun packing gifts for our local women’s hostel. Thanks to local company Joe Cool and generous member donations we have an amazing collection of surprise bags for any of the women and their families who need the shelter this year.
Kids Love Clothes!
Once more club members have been supporting one of our regular charities by helping to sort clothes ready to be distributed to children in need.
And Where’s the Fruit?
A year on from the planting of our orchard trees and little silver birches at Castleview Primary School, Nikki with Lindsey as cameraman, visited Castleview to meet with Kirsten and some of her Primary 5s. Despite the weather failing us, we viewed the progress of the orchard and discussed with Kirsten the other projects the school has in mind – a bee hive and a wild flower meadow below the trees to attract the insects and other wild life. The pupils were very interested to know how soon they would be able to pick apples and without doubt, the trees have flourished on the little derelict plot in which they were planted. Knowing where and how, fruit is produced and what pollinators do seems to be part of this summer’s curriculum. So glad SI Edinburgh has been part of that learning. We shall return in a few years’ time in the hope of seeing some of the results. Picture below shows President Nikki, Programme Action Officer Lindsey and pupils checking on progress.
Packing Christmas Bags
Members made the most of being able to meet face to face. We had an evening packing Christmas Gift Bags for Cranston St Women’s Hostel full of warm clothing and toiletries. Thanks to President Elect Liz’s sister’s company Joe Cool we were able to add many more gifts this year.
And we made the Edinburgh Evening News!
Climate Conference COP26 in Glasgow
Recently, during the meeting of COP26 Anna hosted a Soroptimist and fellow activist from Southern England to enable them to protest outside the Conference in Glasgow. They expressed their appreciation by contributing a donation to the Club, which has been divided between the 3S Fund and for a homeless supporting charity in Edinburgh.
Back to helping at Kids Love Clothes
Find out more information at https://www.kidsloveclothes.co.uk/
Members try to help regularly with sorting the many donations which are received. Recently a small group of members tackled some of the mounting piles to enable winter clothes to be distributed.
Getting ready for UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow
Club members have been knitting and stitching to contribute to a scarf drawing attention to climate change and its impact. This will join with many other contributions from Soroptimists and others to be handed over to Stitches For Survival to be included in their 1.5mile long scarf to be displayed during COP26.
Soroptimist International Centenary Year Trees
The club are joining with Soroptimists around the world to plant trees to celebrate the centenary of Soroptimist International.
Our orchard trees are growing and even beginning to bear fruit!
Thanks to the work of our dedicated Programme Action Officer we have now paid for trees to be planted at a primary school. They asked for orchard trees and these have now been planted.
UN 16 Days to Orange the World Campaign to Eliminate Violence Against Women
Each year from 25th November to 16 December Soroptimists join with many others to support the UN campaign to draw attention to the various forms of violence against women and girls, from domestic abuse to child marriage to human trafficking and sexual exploitation to child marriage to FGM. We have posted every day on Facebook to remind as many people as possible about this dreadful alternative pandemic.
Implementing the SDGs: Helping the Environment
SI Edinburgh works in partnership with UN House Scotland which is based in Edinburgh. Each year UN House host a number of interns, students who are interested in working on international events, projects and other activities supporting the work of the United Nations. Recently a group of interns have produced a Guide of practical tips for helping the environment. It is a really easy read and full of very useful tips.
