Echoing the yellow of the Ukrainian flag, Swindon Soroptimists purchased bright daffodils and gave them free to women yesterday to highlight and celebrate International Women’s Day, held each year on 8th March .
With kind permission of the Swindon Women’s Aid, five members gathered outside their Survivor shop. Holding banners displaying some of the IWD #BreakTheBias statements, the ladies approached women passing by and offered them a free flower, handing a leaflet explaining this year’s theme as well as information on the Soroptimist organisation.
As Club Secretary Jackie Webb commented to one passer by, “We do something every year to mark IWD, usually a display, but this year felt that we needed to do something kind to help others feel better after these difficult times”.
Despite the 5 members and probably over 150 blooms it took less than an hour to distribute them all. The ladies, of all ages, were surprised and delighted, with one lady commenting, “you have really brightened my day!”.
Many were not aware of #IWD2022 and so the Soroptimists were please to be able to explain how our Soroptimist International organisation and women across the world, come together to encourage everyone to celebrate women’s achievements and challenge gender stereotypes and discrimination.
For more information on Soroptimists work please visit our FB page https://www.facebook.com/SwindonSoroptimists , website www.sigbi.org/swindon or contact us on siswindon.soroptimists@gmail.com ”
You can also listen to an interview with Lydia about International Women’s Day and Soroptimism on this link