Jane Slatter, SI St Albans and District
The Friday of conference is dedicated to Education – the first “E” of the theme Education, Empowerment, Enable.
Ann Beatty is the Chief Executive of the Steve Sinnott Foundation (SSF) – take a look at the website to find out more about the foundation’s brilliant projects https://www.stevesinnottfoundation.org.uk.
The focus is on education as a human right for all. I’m proud to write this blog on Ann Beatty’s talk at the SIGBI Conference because Ann is a member of my Club – Soroptimist International St Albans & District.
Ann spoke from the heart with warmth and passion for the work of SSF, as she always does – earning the support and engagement of this large audience of Soroptimists.
Ann started by thanking Soroptimists who have already supported her and the Steve Sinnott Foundation.
The reason for the link with Soroptimists is clear – United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 (UN SDG 4) “to ensure that everyone has access to quality education and lifelong learning opportunities” is so important because it is the enabler for all the other SDG’s.
She asked us some questions using “Slido” the interactive audience engagement tool:
“How many adults lack basic literacy skills?” – answer 765 million
“How many children don’t go to school?” – – answer 360 million
These statistics are shocking, the impact on girls means they have no prospects and are often married off very young.
UNESCO says the world needs 44 million more teachers to achieve the SDG 4 goal of universal primary and secondary education by 2030.
The SSF works with educators and to prove her point Ann got us all to share positive memories of learning with the person sitting next to us – many indicated a teacher who had influenced them. The memories were written on the silhouette of the figure of a girl.
The SSF connects learners across the world with technology appropriate for their location – flexibility, simplicity and affordability is essential.
Ann then spoke about the Positive Periods Project https://www.stevesinnottfoundation.org.uk/projects – learning how to make reusable sanitary pads using locally sourced materials is a skill for life. The products are sustainable, affordable, comfortable and give the girls and women independence. The charity works with people on the ground – training many thousands of women now in countries like Gambia, Sierra Leone, Cuba, Haiti, Malawi, Uganda – learning how to manage periods with dignity. They are then able to train others. While the young women have been learning and making the pads, dialogue has started around violence against women and girls which has also now been built into learning programs.
A message Ann was keen to get across was for people to “STOP SENDING STUFF” – always ask “what do you need?” – there is so much waste.
During lockdown SSF produced online learning – including age-appropriate training “Building Healthy Relationships” – click here for more: https://www.stevesinnottfoundation.org.uk/resources.
Do you want to learn something new? They also have video webinars available on YouTube – just search for Steve Sinnott Lifelong Learning.
To support the charity there is a range of gifts starting at £5 – a great idea for Christmas! https://www.stevesinnottfoundation.org.uk/gifts.
Ann ended with asking for our support by: fundraising, becoming a friend of the foundation, follow on social media and writing to MPs asking them to ensure global education is on the UK government’s education. SIGBI Programme Director, Lindsay Green suggests we write the letters to MPs and link to Day 13 of the 16 Days of Activism “Empowering Women and Girls for Prevention”.
We were delighted to hear that the SI Foundation is going to support the SSF Positive Periods Projects in 5 countries- great news for such a deserving charity – a fitting way for them to celebrate their 15th Anniversary!
SIGBI President Ruth Healey thanked Ann and said “everything starts with education”. Hear, hear!