Helen Owen, Assistant Programme Director, was the guest speaker at the South Lancashire Region’s Spring Programme Action meeting. With responsibility for the Education portfolio, she deals with a theme that is central to Soroptimist International’s work. Introduced by Eileen Griffiths, the region’s Programme Action Officer, Helen covered many facets of education in her presentation.
Access to education is denied to millions of women and girls through their lack of literacy. Clubs’ help at the local level – listening to children read, for example – can do much to reinforce teaching and ensure a good grounding for later life. In the wider world, Soroptimists’ support for charities such as Plan UK’s “Because I’m a Girl” campaign and Book Aid International contributes towards the aim of ensuring that women and girls enjoy equality and have access to education.
Helen also explored the link between food and education. Organisations such as Mary’s Meals combine lunch with learning – for a hungry child cannot take full advantage of school.
The United Nations undertakes a vast amount of work in the educational field. The UN Girls’ Education Initiative is a partnership of organisations committed, for example, to narrowing the gender gap in primary and secondary education. Similarly SIGBI and UNICEF are in alliance to provide, in the short-term, aid and trauma management for the victims of the floods in Pakistan and, in the long-term, specific projects on education.
A woman who cannot read for herself can only listen – her ability to make an informed choice, based on her own understanding, is restricted. An unschooled woman is likely to be trapped in a life defined by poverty and exploitation. Soroptimists believe that female education is society’s foundation for development and economic growth.
In keeping with the theme of economic growth, the region then celebrated Fairtrade Fortnight – with bunting. Galvanised by Wendy Ross-Barker (SI Widnes) members each decorated a piece of Fairtrade cotton bunting. The pieces are going to the Fairtrade Foundation as part of the attempt to break the world record for the longest continual piece of bunting. The Foundation hopes this will publicise Fairtrade cotton and put pressure on decision-makers to make trade fairer for cotton farmers in West Africa.