Having fun in a good cause
We had a great time supporting our local WaterAid group at their quiz night. Although we managed to provide two teams, we didn’t win but a fun time was had by all
Ensuring no girl has to miss school because she has a period.
Working with Days For Girls. We had a brilliant day helping make re-usable sanitary pads and pack up bags containing all the necessary bits to keep women and girls clean and healthy in Malawi. For us these are simply basics but for the recipients they are highly valued and considered a luxury.
International Women’s Day 8th March
According to Wikipedia, the following famous ladies are linked to Kenilworth and District. They include our very own Club member Professor Rebecca Probert! Rebecca Probert (born 1973) legal historian and expert on marriage law. lived in Kenilworth with her travel writer husband Liam D’Arcy-Brown Anna Russell (1807–1876), botanist, lived in Kenilworth.[59] Isabel, Lady Burton (née Arundell, 1831–1896), religious writer and wife of the scholar Richard Francis Burton, was born in Kenilworth.[61] Edith Emma Cooper (1862–1913) was one half of Michael Field, known as a poet, dramatist and diarist. Julia Slingo (born 1950), climate scientist and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, was born in Kenilworth.[70] [72]Sarah-Jane Perry (born 1990), professional international squash player, was educated at Kenilworth School.[74]
#SoroptimistThinkOnIT
In response to President Sue’s theme of ‘Think on it and her request for all clubs to hold at least one event which promotes wellbeing, one of our members organised a speaker from MIND for our dinner meeting last Thursday. Louise Ferro is responsible for the development of mental health services for Coventry and Warwickshire Mind This new project which is called Rise is being set up to provide emotional wellbeing and mental health services for children and young people in Coventry and Warwickshire.. The website for the project is: www.cwrise.com
Fairtrade Fortnight Monday 25th February to Sunday 10th March 2019
Let’s spread the message – She deserves a living income. Please follow the link to sign the petition http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/get%20involved/Current-campaigns/Fairtrade-Fortnight/Fairtrade-Fortnight-for-Campaigners
Loves Me, Loves Me Not Campaign
Jean Nutt (Soroptimist International Central Birmingham) gave us an overview of her Loves Me, Loves Me Not presentation that she uses in schools to raise awareness of what a healthy relationship should feel like. The talk is aimed at years 8-11 (13-16 year olds) in an effort to reduce the risk of young people entering into an abusive relationship, being groomed or trafficked. It covers any relationships/diversity considerations and asks students to consider how they behave themselves, think about the behaviour of others towards them then to question whether they are treating each other appropriately. Jean’s former profession as a teacher has helped to inform her approach to delivering a presentation of this type to students of this age range. She has found ways of role-playing situations, using humour to draw attention to the points she is making. Her work supporting her
Kenilworth Community in Action
We had a great time at the Kenilworth Community in Action event, chatting to other volunteer groups and the general public about what we get up to as Soroptimists in our area. Our calendar from the 16 Days of Action certainly generated lots of discussion, we also displayed the other things we’ve done in the past year plus our international project HOOP
January Dinner meeting with Mary-Ann Stephenson
Mary-Ann Stephenson spoke about her work with the Women’s budget Group, aiming towards a gender equal future. She spoke eloquently on how research has shown the adverse impact of various changes to the benefits system has had on lower income families, and single mums with disabled children in particular. It was good to learn that the Women’s Budget Group are doing their best to lobby Government Departments about these issues. Mary-Ann has worked for women’s equality and human rights for over twenty years as a campaigner, researcher and trainer. She was previously Director of the Fawcett Society and a Commissioner on the Women’s National Commission. She is a founder member of Coventry Women’s Voices and a board member at Coventry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre. She has a PhD in Law from the University of Warwick.
Day 15 of 16 Days of Action – Sign a Petition
Check out the SIGBI website for current petition for example –If your raped by your husband in India it’s not a crime https://www.thepetitionsite.com/en-gb/909/903/488/…