Welcome to our club.
The role of President is now shared between members of our club.(Bridget, Daphne, Jenny and Patricia)
Here’s a few words from Jenny explaining why she thinks being a Soroptimist is so important.
Please read on:
It is a great pleasure to be a Soroptimist. I have always been a ‘helper’, wanting to support others who couldn’t support themselves, for whatever reason and through no fault of their own. Soroptimist International fulfils this need as its focus is to help women and children across the world. As a Soroptimist I have helped raise awareness of issues which affect them, such as FGM, Trafficking and Domestic Abuse, using regular presentations in the town. Through research and listening to talks on the subjects at the club, I have widened my own knowledge and understanding. Basic Human Rights are at the heart of these and it has made me realise just how much we take those basic needs for granted – food, water and shelter.
Education for all is an important area for me, having worked in it since leaving University, firstly in teaching, and latterly, supporting young children with special educational needs. Extensive travelling has shown me first-hand how education is he
ld in high esteem in developing countries and yet how little some children receive, whether through a lack of schools or school places, a lack of text books or writing materials or simply not having the time to study because they are expected to do daily tasks at home and in the daylight.
Being a member of the Soroptimists does offer friendship and companionship which I value. Five of us have been to Gouda to visit one of our friendship clubs to support and celebrate their project Syria ‘Back to School’. We were met with such warmth and friendship, it felt like being at home. With these close links and others in Kobe, Japan and Jersey we can feel we are making a difference internationally. Our club is small but very active and effective. Working together, having fun to raise money for our charities helps to get to know each person as an individual and to form closer bonds with each other. We all need to get something out of what we do. The more we do, the more we gain. The more we work together, the greater the rewards. When we all work together towards the same goal we achieve much more. As Aristotle is attributed in saying, ‘The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.’ Everyone has value and together it is worth so much more.
Jenny Evans
We are sharing the role of President are looking at ways to make ourselves more visible to the public in an attempt to gain new members. We hope to run an Orange Cafe and to streamline our meetings.