15 pairs of shoes and socks were distributed to the underprivileged girls from the United Football Academy. Sandwiches and oranges were also given as part of their nutritional needs.
Soroptimist International South Kolkata International Women’s Day 2024 Inspire Inclusion Programme at The Calcutta Emmanuel School was an inspiring event with two speakers talking about Inclusion in extreme sports like mountaineering and the study of STEM subjects. Our speakers were 1) Mrs Deepali Sinha, Senior Advocate at Calcutta High Court and the first woman mountaineer of India and 2) Dr. Suman Khowala, SISK member n Retired Scientist. SISK members Laxmi Parasuram, Jyoti, Ruma, Bhaswati, Reshma, Suman, Rinku, Anita and Shukla attended the dynamic event. The students were simply thrilled with the Quiz that our President Jyoti conducted
Project “Fistful of Grain” saw its revival this year after it was discontinued due to covid. This year around 60 bags were distributed to the students of the interact club of Calcutta International School. Students will put a handful of grains every day, which will be collected after a month and donated to The Emmanuel School as part of their midday meal program.
Soroptimist International South Kolkata undertook a session with the Class XI students. We had a very interactive session. A true-life story of Shabnam Ramaswamy, a social worker and interior designer in India, who came to fame after she fought all odds, was shared. She is known for her NGO Street Survivors. They were then asked questions based on the story. They were also asked to raise question as if they were interviewing Shabnam. The boys to spoke about how they were succumbed to some sort of violence. Dianne Stout from SI Dundee, spoke to the women about the importance of respecting each other. The session with women was about raising boys and the importance of respecting women.
A days outing to Kumartoli with the interns, Vrinda and Rajnita from Symbiosis, Pune. This place is a traditional potters quarter in North Kolkata, West Bengal. The potters came here during British Era to make idols of Goddesses and this tradition continues till date. The interns interviewed the women workers here. The women spoke about their hardships and how they overcame all barriers and are now successful business women. The interns will be making a short film on women empowerment focusing on Goddess Durga and the women workers.
Women Power Session at The Emmanuel School. The theme was spoken English session raising awareness regarding Elimination Of Violence against Women and Girls. the young mothers were briefed about the UN initiative and the need at an individual level to stand up and speak up against injustice. To recognize signs of imminent harassment, to protect oneself and other around us. Wearing the colour orange, these women spoke about how they tackled emotional violence mostly after their marriage. The session was about making them feel proud of themselves, and fight for their rights. They were stressed on the point that tolerance was also a form of violence. The session ended with their life stories and a round of photo session.
SISK Fundraiser Musical Evening by Adil and Paloma was a great hit! Author, scholar, and women’s rights activist, Jael Silliman, was our guest of honour. Adil and his band kept the audience enthralled. Guest artiste Krsna Dwaipayan Mukerji, lead singer of Humsafar was an added attraction. And they did it all pro bono for the good cause of education and nutrition of those less privileged. The photos are a testimony to the wonderful spirit of Soroptimism and music!
A Musical Evening by Paloma & Adil – The Event
On the 23rd December 2022, 7 members of SISK made a trip to Sajnekhali to follow up on the progress of our Crab Cultivation Project. We needed to go soon as Saurav had already informed us that the crabs would soon be put to market. We reached Gosaba after crossing the R. Baidya. It took another short ride on a Toto, through a verdant rural landscape, and a walk over a perilous rickety bamboo bridge before we reached the spot. We found the whole-lot of 100 boxes each containing a single crab floating on a makeshift platform in a pond nearby. They have been recently shifted from the creek where they were earlier located. The crabs have attained quite a good size, each supposed to weigh from 250 to 300 grams. They will be put on the market in January. Crabs sell at a very
