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SI Port of Spain

Soroptimist International of Port of Spain was founded in 1959 and is the founder Club of Soroptimist Clubs in the Commonwealth Caribbean. Soroptimist International of Port of Spain is a member of Soroptimist International which is a “worldwide organization for women in management and professions, working through service projects to advance human rights and the status of women.”

It is also the founder Club of Soroptimist Clubs in the English – Speaking Caribbean.

Soroptimist International Port of Spain headquarters is located at:
15 Nepaul Street, St. James, Port of Spain.

 

Projects included:

• SI Centenary Tree planting
• International Women’s Day video production
• Intergenerational Women’s Leadership Program
• Annual Computer Literacy programme in conjunction with Microsoft
• “Crescendo” Music Therapy programme for Cyril Ross children
• Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy Training for single women from the Beetham Estate
• Annual World Peace Day “Spoken Word” programme for primary schools in Port of Spain area in conjunction with Roots Foundation – Mtima Solwazi
• Audrey Jeffers challenge project for schools
• 4 part series video discussion on Self Defense for Women

 

Recent Activities:

Awareness of the problem of human trafficking

As part of an initiative of Soroptimist International of the Caribbean Network, members of SI Esperance and SI POS placed a banner at the Tobago Terminal to create awareness of the problem of human trafficking and a phone number to call if suspicious of its occurrence. Banners with similar messages are being placed at ports of entry throughout the English speaking Caribbean.

 

Care Ambassadors

The North West Regional Health Authority are partnering with various NGOs for volunteers to assist as “Care Ambassadors” providing customer service to the elderly population as they seek vaccination services at the designated Health Centres.

We thank Gayatri Dass who represented SIPOS today at the Diego Martin Health Centre. This involved her pleasantly greeting the elderly, engaging in delightful conversation to ensure that they were comfortable and assisting them in completing their forms. Gayatri said that her experience was indeed an enlightening one.

 

In celebration of SI’s Centenary, on Sunday, July 25, 2021, SITT published a 24-page newspaper supplement with the Guardian Newspaper, Trinidad.
Here’s our full-page editorial…

To read the entire supplement, click on the link below to access our FlipBook:

https://online.fliphtml5.com/ahemv/zzmz/

 

SI Centenary Tree Planting Project-
Planting of a Sapodilla Tree on the premises of SIPOS, at Nepaul Street, St. James.

 

SAPODILLA TREE

Sapodilla is a tropical evergreen tree well known for its delicious brown fruits and its numerous health benefits.

The tree is fast-growing and flourishes well even under dry arid regions receiving scanty rains. As we approach the dry season in Trinidad and Tobago (which usually commences in February and ends in May) we thought this an appropriate tree to plant.

The tree was planted on the grounds of Soroptimist International Port of Spain’s premises in St. James, Trinidad.

Botanically, sapodilla fruit is a round or oval-shaped berry, measures about 10 cm in diameter and weighs about 150 g. A tree can produce as many as 2,000 fruits/year.

There are great health benefits from the Sapodilla fruit including as an excellent source of antioxidants.

 

Intergenerational Women’s Leadership Program

Women’s Institute for Alternative Development (WINAD) in collaboration with Soroptimist International Port of Spain (SIPOS) launched the Intergenerational Women’s Leadership Program on Saturday May 1st, 2021 via a virtual platform.

The heart of this Programme is the partnering of teenage girls with “Big Sisters” in workshops which are built on the pillars of human rights education; leadership and seeking ways to promote gender equality and security, free from violence.

The programme which will be for a duration of 1 year is designed to empower girls through leadership development, to foster lifetime skill sets and strategies of critical analysis and problem solving and to impact girls’ personal career trajectories. It provides tools to help girls understand and capitalize on their strengths, to make positive life choices, to achieve academic success, and overcoming the barriers of sexism.

From Then Til Now
This is a video presentation of the Pioneering Soroptimists throughout the years and the phenomenal groundwork done for uplifting the status of women in Trinidad and Tobago.

In commemoration of International Women’s Day 2021, all six Soroptimist International Clubs of Trinidad and Tobago united to produce a series of videos featuring prominent local women who choose to challenge gender bias and inequality.

These women hail from different backgrounds and each shared their journey and determination to forge a gender-equal world.

We present Na-o-mi Frederick.   #ChooseToChallenge

# I CHOOSE TO CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO

SI Port of Spain is honoured to have interviewed Na-o-mi Frederick – 21 years old, CEO/Founder of Women of Steel, an organisation which empowers young women and showcases excellence in the steelpan industry and in steelpan manufacturing.

Na-o-mi is a brilliant, committed, motivated, passionate, enterprising young lady who has a vision to inspire young female pannist like herself to reach their true potential by introducing them to steelpan manufacturing. She CHOSE TO CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO in breaking the glass ceiling in a male dominated industry. “Women of Steel” is a very insightful name as it not only denotes women pannist but it conveys sterling qualities of strength and power in women. This organisation is a powerhouse of young women making a positive difference. They have showcased several female pannists on their social media platform creating a medium for inspiration for pan players, arrangers, manufacturers and enthusiasts alike.

Early this year they created a scintillating video production called “Tribute to Women in Pan” which not only paid tribute to women’s presence in the steelpan industry but also gave an insight into steelpan manufacturing process and showcased unity among women in the steelband community. They plan to continue to create more video productions to highlight female excellence in the steelpan Industry. In 2022 they also plan to partner with Pan in School Coordinating Council to host workshops in Secondary Schools which will give students an insight into the history of the Steelpan industry, steelpan music, the discipline involved in becoming a professional pannist and the area of steelpan manufacturing.

16th January 2021 marks the 62nd Anniversary of Soroptimism in the English-speaking Caribbean. Being the first Club to be chartered in the region it is also Soroptimist International Port of Spain’s 62 Anniversary. It is a Club with a rich history, its founder President being none other than Audrey Layne Jeffers O.B.E. The Club’s Charter celebration took place at the Country Club and since it was before our Independence in 1962, a toast to the Queen was proposed by the then Attorney General, the Honourable Mr Ellis Clarke who later became His Excellency , The President of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago. SI Port of Spain set the tone and the pace for Soroptimism in Trinidad & Tobago and were responsible for the formation of SI San Fernando in 1962.

Newspaper clipping below:
Dinner function to commemorate the presentation of the Charter to Soroptimist International, Port of Spain. Presentation was made to President Audrey Layne Jeffers.

 

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You are welcome to visit our Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/Soroptimist-International-Port-of-Spain

Email address:-
soroptimistportofspain@gmail.com