South Lancashire Region’s President, Yvonne Gibbon, was delighted recently to see her own club (SI Widnes) mentioned in a major international document.
Soroptimist International’s ‘Report for the High-Level Political Forum 2020’ was compiled for the United Nations (UN). Entitled ‘The Road to Equality’ the report looked at the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, Women & Girls. It demonstrated how the work of Soroptimist International has contributed towards progress in achieving the Goals. The report highlighted Soroptimists’ worldwide project work aimed at women and girls.
SI Widnes appeared in the section on Soroptimists’ response to COVID-19, aiding victims of violence:
Hygiene Poverty: UK SI Widnes
- The resources available to women and children in shelters has always been limited. Many of those staying in shelters do not have a stable income, which can mean they experience hygiene poverty – where they are unable to afford items for personal care for themselves and their children.
- Responding to this during the COVID-19 crisis, SI Widnes donated nappies, wipes and toys for the children at Changing Lives (Women’s Refuge).
- To support a local homeless charity, Night Stop, SI Widnes also helped equip two new houses with household items such as bedding, towels and kitchen utensils.
- This kind of in-kind support is essential during a pandemic, where finding the necessary resources to help homeless people is very challenging.
Yvonne is currently part of the Programme Team in our Federation (SIGBI: Soroptimist International, Great Britain & Ireland). As Assistant Programme Director for ‘People’ she was particularly delighted that her club’s people-focussed project was singled out by our parent organisation Soroptimist International. (Read the full report: Soroptimist International HLPF Report to UN 2020)