Soroptimist International of San Fernando is a women’s service organisation with consultative status with the United Nations. Their programme action work is designed with the aims of educating, enabling and empowering women and girls and to build awareness of the importance of the rights of women and girls. SI San Fernando has continued its support of the Trinidad and Tobago Music Festival Association by being involved in all aspects of its planning and execution. Last Festival the club donated three challenge trophies. This year the Soroptimists added a bursary which would cover the cost of music lessons for one year to be presented to the most outstanding girl in the South region. In her selection, the adjudicator, Ms Belinda Mikhail wrote, “She has a lovely developing tone, a bright personality and a charming stage presence. She sang solo classes of many different vocal styles, winning the folk

  This year, Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, called on the world to focus on the importance of empowering women and girls with autism. In keeping with this appeal, Soroptimist International San Fernando partnered with the Mayor of the City of San Fernando to host the first Light It Up Blue event for Autism Awareness and Acceptance. The programme included chalk art for children and their families.  All children, parents, invited guests, and supporters were treated to performances by the National Center for Persons with Disabilities Ensemble (NCPD) and four singers from The Trebles of T&T. Suzette Neptune-Fortune, one of the parents of an autistic child who attends the monthly workshops, performed a skit in which she made an impassioned appeal against discrimination, and advocated for the rights and fundamental freedoms of autistics to be legislated by the government of Trinidad and Tobago. Immediate Past