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Soroptimist International Colombo History

SI Colombo History                

Chartered  on  the 24th  of March  1974 by Mrs.  Hilda  Richardson Federation  President SIGBI.

Projects                                                                                                                    

Rehabilitation  of  women prisoners :  Commenced 1974 – Ongoing till  2010 Instead current : Sponsoring Educational Needs of Children of Prisoners

Establishing Day care center  in 1980 : In Polonnaruwa  200km from Colombo

Establishing  Community Development Project and Preschool Thimbirigaswewa,  Habarana 185 km from colombo : commenced 1980  – On going

Reconstructing Head Teacher Nanda’s Home  in Habarana :with Electricity and Pipe borne water. 2019

Street  Children’s Project Wijerama 1989  – to Pre School Panadura  for Children living on the beach front., and the construction of  the pre school in  Kalmunai & several other Pre schools  & the Livelyhoods of women  along Sri Lanka’s coastline  destroyed by  the Tsunami.

1988 Drug Rehabilitation Programme

1988 – 89 Home for destitute women and children & Litaracy Programmes

1993 –  Release of Prisoners  by paying their fines

1993 –ongoing: Projects at the Schools for the Deaf & Blind Ratmalana : Weaving & Handicrafts.  Gifting of Braille Slates & writers, sewing machines, fans, cupboards & other furniture  required by the Hostel.

Disaster Relief

Given  to victims of Natural Disasters and other calamities when disaster strikes.  Also to the Armed Forces in the battle front and those injured.

Special Treats – To patients of the Mental Hospital,  Hospice & Elder’s Homes.

Assisting a Medical Student till she graduated.

Ongoing– Providing  a girl with special  needs with her Educational & personal needs.

Advocacy :  

Recent  Programmes on Gender Based Violence, Achieving  Gender Equality, Women’s Issues on Environment ,Land, Local Economy, Political participation, at the workplace  & the SDG.

Seminars

We had 3 International Seminars attended by the sitting Presidents  of SIGBI.

July 1984 – Challenge of Change through Awareness, Advocacy & Action.            Ms. Margaret Hutchins.

May 1989 – Asian Regional Seminar “Mother & Chold”.                                                       Ms. Anne Bryan

June 1996 – Child Labour & Universal Primary Education in the SAARC Region. Ms. Tricia Fahey.

Membership

We are an aging membership, whose numbers have declined through the years from over 40 members to 23. We are enrolling new members but the younger ones do not seem to have the time to spare for hands on projects. Hence we are concentrating more on Advocacy to encourage them to participate in future programmes.