International Friendship
Soroptimist club Chester invited members from our club to a meeting to speak about our Mastectomy Cushion project. The aim of the meeting was to bring together Soroptimists from across Cheshire North Wales & Wirral Region to meet six visitors on a Grant of Friendship from SI Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
President Wendy gave us all a very warm welcome, we felt very much at home. They had arranged it so that 2 of the Cambodian Soroptimists were on each table, so we all had a chance to meet them and chat.
The first speaker was Glenys from SI Heswall, talking about the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).
CSW was founded in 1948. It gathers information on women’s lived experience. Implementation of the SDGs is key. A lot of data is needed, and it’s important to involve men and boys in the work too.
Every March it holds a two-week session in New York, which produces Outcomes, concrete recommendations agreed by all member states. The session also sets a Priority theme and a Review theme each year.
Up to 9600 organisations are entitled to attend. SI can send up to 100 delegates.
The sessions could be on familiar or new topics, but the variety of countries present always ensures a wide range of perspectives. There are also daily briefings with UK MPs and civil servants.
Glenys finished by stressing that SI has real influence at the UN and amongst NGOs.
Helen and Sarah from SI Runcorn & Frodsham then presented details of their highly successful Mastectomy Cushion Project. These are given to two local hospitals at a rate of 10-15 to each hospital each month. A sample cushion was handed round, the pattern was shared with everyone via a QR code, and questions were fielded on some of the practical aspects of maintaining production. Read more about our project here.
Bounthary from SI Phnom Penh introduced her club and described the range of projects they are involved in.
The club was founded in 2010, initiated by SI Melbourne. They have 19 members and maintain strong and supportive links with clubs in Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia.
Their main projects are:
(i) Breast cancer awareness, especially in remote areas.
(ii) Bicycle provision for malaria volunteers to take testing kits and treatment drugs to jungle areas. This project won the SISEAP Best Practice Award in 2018.
(iii) Provision of solar lamps.
(iv) Constructing a road to a primary school to help ensure girls get an education.
(v) Covid masks and sanitiser to remote areas.
(vi) Food and funds to support a disabled woman and her family.
(vii) Livestock awareness, e.g. pig rearing or fish farming.
(viii) Domestic violence awareness in schools, cafes etc.
(ix) School materials – books, pens & pencils, backpacks etc.
Bounthary ended by outlining the main challenges they face, which are time limitations, finance and the capacity of the club. Finally, a map of Cambodia highlighted the geographical and infrastructure challenges present. It was an extremely interesting and exciting insight into a young club that has already achieved so much, and everyone wished them well for their future work.
Sarah Froggatt 19/4/24