{"id":4621,"date":"2022-01-11T16:57:06","date_gmt":"2022-01-11T16:57:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/south-east-england\/?page_id=4621"},"modified":"2026-01-17T13:12:18","modified_gmt":"2026-01-17T13:12:18","slug":"what-we-do","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/south-east-england\/what-we-do\/","title":{"rendered":"What we do?"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

‘What we do’ as Soroptimists is usually referred to as Programme Action. It is core to what we are about as Soroptimists that separates us out from other women’s organisations.<\/em><\/h4>\n

Regional Programme Action Officer<\/h3>\n

Yvonne Freeman is the Regional Programme Action Officer. She represents the Region on the UK Programme\"\" Action Committee (UKPAC)<\/a>. Information on programme action (PA) activities and best practice is shared with clubs.<\/p>\n

Clubs are asked to share what they have been doing at our Regional meetings.\u00a0 Here is an example of one of the presentations shown by SI Medway and Maidstone.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

She also ensures that clubs report what they do by completing a form on-line on the Programme database.<\/p>\n

Consultative Status at the United Nations<\/h3>\n

Soroptimist International is the world\u2019s largest women\u2019s service organisation with consultative status at the United Nations.\u00a0 Through our Consultative Status at the United Nations<\/a>, we strive for equality, peace and international understanding. We are committed to a world where women and girls together achieve their individual and collective potential, realise aspirations and have an equal voice in creating strong and peaceful communities worldwide.<\/p>\n

Sustainable Development Goals<\/h3>\n

\"\"Every Soroptimist Club across the Region devises, plans and carries out project work \u2013 known as Programme Action<\/strong> based on the\u00a0United Nations\u2019 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)<\/a>.The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG\u2019s) are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.<\/p>\n

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The 5 ‘P’s<\/h3>\n

\"\"All the project work that we undertake supports the\u00a0 United Nations 5Ps (People, Prosperity, Planet, Peace, Partnerships). Through our programme action we aim to Educate, Enable and Empower women and girls through raising Awareness, Advocacy and Action. We aim to bring about significant improvements for all by 2030, opening up all sorts of opportunities for achievement of aims to help women and girls be the best they can be through inspiring action and transforming lives.<\/p>\n

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SIGBI President Cathy Cottridge at Region with UN SDG Flag – September 2022<\/h3>\n

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Support to Foodbanks<\/h3>\n

Clubs across the Region are involved in range of activities supporting their local communities such as Foodbanks. Some make donations, others volunteer, and others do food collections.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_media_grid element_width=”3″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1768655337274-e3ef0552-7e73-9″ include=”4718,4713,4719,4714″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Recycling and the Environment<\/h3>\n

All the clubs are committed to the environment and are involved in many ways to re-use and recycle to prevent unwanted items going into landfill. Here is a list of what and which clubs: –<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Items<\/td>\nClub<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Blister Packs<\/td>\nSI Croydon and SI Medway and Maidstone via Superdrug for TerraCycle<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tin Cans<\/td>\nSI Tunbridge Wells for cash<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n\n

\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Tinfoil<\/td>\nSI Sevenoaks via local vets for Guide Dogs for the Blind<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Stamps<\/td>\nSI Sevenoaks for RNIB<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Spectacles<\/td>\nSI Sevenoaks via local opticians for Rotary Vision Aid<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tights<\/td>\nSI East Grinstead<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Clothes for male detainees at Gatwick Airport<\/td>\nSI Sevenoaks<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Examples of Recycling Activities<\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_media_grid element_width=”3″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1768655337278-cda2acb7-e5e3-7″ include=”4726,4729,4728,4727,4732,4731,4733,4734″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Orange the World and 16 Days of Activism<\/h3>\n

With the growing number of incidents of abuse especially during the pandemic, it has become more important to raise awareness to eliminate violence against women. As part of the UN ‘Orange the World’ 16 Days of Activism<\/a> campaign, clubs have been active on social media to spread the word, Canterbury held a Silent March and Tunbridge Wells a candlelit vigil outside the Town Hall.<\/p>\n

How the Region ‘Oranged the World’<\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_media_grid element_width=”3″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1768655337283-f0ce01c0-9ad3-9″ include=”5690,5691,5692,5547,5549,5313,4743,4745″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Soroptimist Centenary Activities<\/h3>\n

Soroptimist International \u00a0of Great Britain and Ireland [SIGBI] celebrated 100 years of service in 2021 launching challenges which included knitting 100 Teddy Bears for traumatised children. SI Sevenoaks club responded with great fervour. Teddies were distributed to Kent and Sussex Police who used the bears as comforters when interviewing traumatised children. The club was thrilled when the project was highlighted at a SIBGI \u00a0Education webinar attended by 124 members from clubs in the UK, the Caribbean and India .<\/p>\n

Trauma Bears<\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”3″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1768655337287-583bf3d3-74e2-2″ include=”5558,5559,5560,5561,4758,4780,4753,4755,4756,4757,5562,5563″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Plant Trees for a Brilliant Future<\/h3>\n

Tree planting<\/a> is one of the ways as Soroptimists we have been celebrating the first centenary of Soroptimists that helps the environment. Our Region has taken part and you can see from the photos below: –<\/p>\n

Tree Planting<\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_media_grid element_width=”3″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1768655337292-4821f0ff-3a12-9″ include=”4762,4772,4765,4767,4769,4770,4776,4778,4827,4825,4823,4824″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

International Women’s Day<\/h3>\n
International Womens Day<\/a> is on 8th March 2026 . This years theme is ‘Rights, Justice, Action. For ALL Women and Girls.’<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
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\"\"<\/div>\n
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Clubs raise awareness of this important day at their March club meetings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text][\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

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If you want to find out more about some of the activities referred to many appear as articles in our Regional Newsletter – SEE News (South East England). Follow the link<\/a> to look at previous 2024 – 2025 editions.<\/em><\/h4>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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