SI South Kolkata was represented at the Conference by two members, Bhaswati Biswas, outgoing SIGBI Friendship Link Coordinator for two terms and Shukla Chattopadhyay, Memorial Grant Awardee and incoming APD Prosperity at SIGBI Federation. It was a wonderful experience for first-timer Shukla. We touched base with our first-ever Friendship Link Club, SI Kettering, represented by Heather Korby at Conference. The FPAC showed a lot that we could learn from. Particularly remarkable and delightful was the Project on dresses for Prom!
The Programme focus was an event all Soroptimists looked forward to. The onstage presence of Kay, Programme Director, the Assistant Programme Directors at the Conference and the presenters of the programme action for the five programme focus areas, was a sight to behold. Everyone pledging “Say No to Violence” reverberated through the auditorium.
SI South Kolkata received the Best Project Award under the Planet Category for their Mangrove Plantation in the Sunderbans, having planted 25,112 saplings and bringing together not just India but the entire Federation unitedly helping to regenerate mangroves to rebuild the coastline and enable and empower coastal women and girls to augment their livelihood. The project was in total sync with the Centenary theme #planttreesforaBrilliantFuture. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) addressed were:
13-Climate Action,
17- Partnerships for the Goals, plus
2- Zero Hunger,
5- Gender Equality,
10- Reduced Inequalities,
8- Decent Work and Economic Growth,
15- Life on Land,
14- Life Below Water
