Regional Communications Lead, Bozena Benton reports from the recent SIGBI Federation Conference held in London on the first weekend of November 2023.
Thirty members from five Clubs within our Region gathered in London for this year’s annual Federation Conference held in London. We always look forward to our Conference but this year was certainly worth attending. The combination of awesome, inspirational speakers and celebrating our Programme work meant we came away inspired and truly experiencing what it means to be part of the Soroptimist family. We enjoyed meeting up with friends and remembering those who were not able to be with us.
Day One
The Opening Ceremony
The procession of flags reminded us of how far we reached out and we were delighted to receive a message from King Charles. Federation President (FP) Cathy Cottridge welcomed members from around the globe and representatives from the Americas, Africa, Europe and South East Asia Pacific Federations together with International President (IP) Maureen Maguire and Incoming IP Siew Yong Gnanalingam.
Soroptimist International
We heard from IP Maureen about her biennium during which had seen health, environmental and conflict disasters and the projects in each Federation with ‘Opening doors to a bright future’ reaching many welcome outcomes. The IP Appeal had helped over 3000 women and will enable us to continue with the projects through the new Foundation especially the global Speaking Competition. She spoke of her travels, meeting members and benefactors of the projects and her surprise when given a rooster as a present. She spoke of our work at the UN, the signing of the ‘Every Women Treaty’ and the rebranding of our Emblem. In recognition of her dedication and hard work Federation President Cathy Catherine Cottridge presented Maureen with Lifelong Membership of Our Federation.
Environment
Monty Halls was not only given a very warm welcome but a standing ovation at the end of his presentation, a last-minute substitute but definite a star speaker. A former Royal Marine, now a marine biologist with a love of the Galápagos Islands having his family spend many years there. We were reminded that need for us as elders is to ensure and enable young people to get involved with environmental issues. He praised female expedition members who outperform male team members owing to their approach. He spoke very passionately recanting both experiences and funny, at times hilarious anecdotes of working with fishing communities, their fishing teams and the women who were the anchor of their society keeping everyone and everything together. Seeing the rise of young women now involved in conservation and expeditions was something he greatly welcomed and encouraged. Like aborigines he challenged us to plant trees we’ll never see, for our next generation; to respect the land and environment. One of the best experiences was meeting a manta ray which approached his team needing help removing a fishing hook in its eye which with patience slowly was achieved. He reminded us that decisions are less impactful the longer they take. Generation Sea Change working with communities has seen 90% of those involved and the projects driven are women. Monty predicted Great Whites will be in the waters around the south coast soon as our shores are currently already seeing many Blue Fins.
SI Europe
Having enjoyed a very interesting lunch with members from Skipton Club the afternoon turned to Membership. Carolien Demey FP Europe (SIE) talked about their Leadership Academies supporting young women to enable studying whether through grants or membership of the Academy. The e-clubs were just one outcome of the Growth Academy. Members also benefit from an Academy by developing their skills. Our Federation is launching a Leadership Academy and many applying for a grant have a preference for vocational training such as environmental courses. Members will be asked to participate as mentors and also increase donations. We heard moving case studies from young recipients of a grant.
Membership and new Clubs
6 Presidents of new Clubs in Northampton , Whitstable, Stratford, Leamington, North Staffs, Srinagar (Kashmir) shared their experiences of setting up Clubs, each in their own way. President of SI Whitstable taught us about 15 minutes cities, urban areas where work, leisure and lifestyle needs are met within a 15-minute walk or run thereby cutting car use. A common thread was that Social media is pertinent for new members especially younger women and all Clubs need to embrace this as this is their media and when approaching new members we should look for contributors rather than takers.
With no resolutions our AGM was shorter than usual, and FP Cathy spoke of her Presidential term, her travels across the Federation, the delight in hosting the Dublin International Convention last July and her joy in chartering new Clubs. Cathy spoke of projects showcased both at Dublin, in workshops and Zoom meetings and asked whether members had seen our advertisement in Sainsbury’s magazine.
Day 2
Women’s Safety
We started with looking at Women’s safety both on the streets, in courts and at home. Chris Corless Vice Chair UKPAC (our National Programme Committee) spoke of the research members undertook about Special Domestic Violence Courts and availability of IDVAs (Independent Domestic Violence Advocates), the final report and our on-going work. She spoke of the valuable partnerships and working together on such projects. She introduced 3 amazing women.
Louisa Rolfe OBE, Assistant Commissioner Metropolitan Police Service spoke of her work around Domestic Violence (DV), the new crime of non-fatal Strangulation, the changes within the Police with understanding of DV, trauma informed approach. She touched on the reasons people join the Police Force and recognised the need to root out those who join for the wrong reasons (power and ability to abuse), delays in cases going to court (if they are accepted by the CPS), domestic homicide and Suspected Victim Suicide. Trust in policing is one of the many Police Challenges.
Hasina Safi, an advocate for women’s rights and representing Afghan women and also a Soroptimist called for Soroptimist unity with Afghan women and other organisations to fight for women’s rights. She reminisced about the 1970’s when women were doctors, teachers, ministers until 2001 when things changed. The women’s movement have worked for decades to regain these rights. Meaningful deliberation had been achieved just before the Afghanistan Takeover in 2021 when repressive orders were introduced targeting women even though Afghanistan sighed CEDAW. She urged us to seek Solidarity (planning, monitoring and accountability), Co-ordination consistency, evidence and fact-based analysis, Local existing initiatives ‘Grassroots to Policy’. We stressed we need to evaluate the effect of CEDAW and ask are the countries who have signed up meeting their commitments as small changes accumulate.
Divya Arya our third speaker, a Women’s Affairs reporter for the BBC based in Delhi spoke of the fear of fighting back. She spoke of two particular horrendous events that caught World attention, the gang-rape on a bus in South Delhi in 2012 and a video that surfaced of an incident in Manipur 2023 when 2 naked women were attacked by 100s of men, who surrounded them, beat them and gang-raped them. In 95% of cases in India the perpetrators are known to the victim. A decade after the bus gang-rape crimes against women have increased by 50%. Women fought for change. A death penalty for heinous crimes was introduced although is yet to be enforced. Misogyny and the Caste system is prevalent and victims blamed or disregarded. Rather than ensuring all police stations being welcoming a few women only police stations have been set up. ‘Save daughter, educate daughters’ is a campaign to stop female foetus abortion and look after daughters once born has effectively although not intentionally raised women’s profile. Only in Nepal across South Asia is rape within marriage recognised. Many assumptions are still in effect with regard to perpetrators based on caste, illiteracy, wealth. Laws are not always enacted such as the 2-finger test to assess and record women’s sexual history. Women affected by the high-profile cases have fought back and changed their lives and of others by setting up a helpline for victims and support for others in similar situations.
After enjoying lunch with our Friendship link, members from Hallamshire we returned for the afternoon sessions. Firstly, we heard of our African sisters’ campaign to eradicate Cervical Cancer, the biggest cancer killer in Africa. Working with Health4Life Fun a call was put out to Soroptimists to spread the message and inform women about the HPV vaccine and cervical screening. In the UK many women ignore their letter and do not attend. Whilst the HPV vaccine is available in schools in the UK it isn’t available in many countries. SIGBI are setting up a working party looking into rates, infections and immunisations, costs, urgent initiatives and uptake rates.
Lendwithcare
A number of our Clubs support Lendwithcare, an initiative which works with local entrepreneurs to provide micro-financing and other financial support to those in poverty. Tracey Horner, Head of Lendwithcare shared that more than 2 billion people in the world lack access to financial services. They support women with children, widows, female entrepreneurs to help them to feed, house their children and ensure they are able to go to school. 80% of loans go to women who bear the burden and are most likely to be living in poverty. Latest projects include new farming techniques. Check out www.lendwithcare.org
Programme Action – Best Practice Awards
Each year we recognise excellent Programme Action across Clubs in our 5 Programme areas, but unlike previous years delegates were able to vote for their Best.
Ayushi Kundu APD for Partnerships – nominations were our region’s SI Stafford and their work with a local women’s Drake Hall Prison looking how women and their children are affected by incarceration. Starting with Christmas gifts for the prisoners’ children support has increased with providing materials for art therapy and knitting circle and supporting the families as they visit the women.
SI Barnstable spoke of their Spiking Campaign and spiking deterrents. Using funding received from a local trust enabled them to purchase spikies and stop-topps. Members have worked with the Police and Stamp Out Spiking. Winner SI Barnstable
Peace – SI Salisbury and Making our City Safer a Women’s safety project following the murder of Sarah Everard. Forming a partnership with a local Community group. Project included public events, a march , members undertook a streetlights audit. Members were invited to work with the local Council, partnered with a local domestic violence refuge and the work culminated with the 16 Days of Activism
SI Trinidad and Tobago held an Art Competition to raise awareness of gender-based violence. It became a national competition. Submissions were exhibited in the city’s Art Gallery raising the profile of the issue. Winner SI Salisbury
Prosperity – Shukla Chattopadhyay announced her 2 projects: the first was from SI Barbados. The Sister Forward Academy supported entrepreneurs to develop their skills as part of capacity building. Barbados was hit heavily due to COVID with women disproportionately affected resulted in their unemployment. Master classes were set up including financial, marketing, legal foundation for small businesses
SI Northern Ireland spoke of their national Public Speaking Competition. Established 40 years ago and still going both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland work in partnership. Girls speak on their chosen subject and the experience improves confidence. It builds peaceful communities within the 2 countries and involves every school and local company sponsors. Winner SI Northern Ireland
Planet and Zero Hunger – SI Bingley – Working with Bingley Community Kitchen to help combat Food Poverty. With the Club being the driving force, members work in partnership with many local community groups, local Council, Rotary, providing a food Bank, a slow-cooker recipe and food Club and a Credit Union.
SI Bombay Chembur Dr Daphne Pillai said their project was launched on World Environment Day and reduce single use plastics. Working with schools students were taught how to upcycle clothing and recycle single use plastic bottled turning them into T-shirt fabric. Winner SI Bombay
Eleanor Evans reported the People (Health) projects.
SI Madurai – Anaemia awareness and detection Campaign in partnership with the College of Arts and Hospital. Anaemia often ignored believing it being a part of being a kGirl or women. a member, being a gynaecologist spoke to girls about the importance of a good well- balanced diet and the impact on skin and hair. Following blood tests 1 in 6 girls were found to be anaemia (from mild to severe) Winner
SI Newtown – Mammogram campaign. Research shows that breast cancer is the second cause of death. Working with a local company they offered discount off a mammogram, an OBGYN member filmed how to do. Test me another filmed how to undergo a mammogram. As a result 30 women received the $50 discount. Winner SI Madurai
So delighted that our own SI Stafford won the Delegates’ winner was SI Stafford with their project with Drake Hall Prison with 42% of the votes
Closing ceremony
Deborah Thomas Global Executive Officer Soroptimist International conducted the awaited handover of Outgoing International President Maureen and Incoming International President Siew Yong Gnanalingam. We thanked Maureen and congratulated Siew Yong.
Cathy Cottridge gave her emotional closing speech recounting her two years, her travels to see members overseas and their awesome projects, chartering new clubs and shared some anecdotal events. She inducted our new Board. Cathy Cottridge handed over the Federation President chain to Ruth Healey our new SIGBI Federation President.
Ruth spoke of the need for Soroptimists to work with others, without this we cannot get the change we want. Change needs to happen and we need to adapt. With a changing world of work for women and girls and we need to anticipate what and how so we can be ready to support them. We must listen and make way for new members as our predecessors did for us.
A glimpse of next year’s conference in Edinburgh and venue. To mark our Federation’s 90 years Ruth challenged us to do something for ‘90’. The second challenge is for every Club to increase its membership by one new member by this time next year.
With the Conference ending it was time to party.