Skip links

ECHOES OF OPPRESSION: WOMEN’S FIGHT FOR RIGHTS UNDER THE TALIBAN POLICY BRIEF, #IWD 8 MARCH 2024

ECHOES OF OPPRESSION: WOMEN’S FIGHT FOR RIGHTS UNDER THE TALIBAN POLICY BRIEF, #IWD 8 MARCH 2024

in Tags

ECHOES OF OPPRESSION: WOMEN’S FIGHT FOR RIGHTS UNDER THE TALIBAN POLICY BRIEF, #IWD 8th MARCH 2024 Today’s #IWD Policy Brief evaluates the Taliban’s suppression of human rights in Afghanistan, focusing on its impact on women and girls. It draws on literature reviews and first hand accounts from Afghan women across eight geographical zones, as well as insights from human rights experts both within and outside the country, to analyse the challenges posed by the Taliban’s regime. As mankind globally celebrate progress and success for women and girls, this important brief created from literature review and first hand in country reports gives clear insights and recommendations for action. Soroptimists are keen to disseminate this information on International Women’s Day, please share, tag your MPs, send it to Ministers, commend it to your friends and family and anyone who can focus effort on enabling change and influencing

Weybridge, Walton & Hersham are on Santa’s Route

Weybridge, Walton & Hersham are on Santa’s Route

in Tags

At this time of year mothers and women struggling financially face difficult choices, heat the home, pay the bills, put food on the table,  borrow to buy extras and gifts? Alongside supporting foodbanks with female hygiene products year round, local women soroptimists volunteer and fundraise to aid community foodbanks around the country with supermarket vouchers and food, plus summer essentials like children’s sun lotion and treats at Easter. This festive season our soroptimists and friends in Elmbridge donated £15 to fill each gift hat for women and mums from Santa.  Brenda and Cathy delivered 20 to @Runnymede at #WeybridgeFoodbank last week, Jean and Ann did the same at @Walton&Hershamfoodbank. Sincere thanks to the generous soroptimists, neighbours, friends and family for the cash to enable this sharing of joy and goodwill locally. Merry Christmas to all  partners, volunteers and charities we work with locally to improve

Elfing around..Elmbridge..

Elfing around..Elmbridge..

in Tags

Last week we approved fund allocation to fill 40 elf hats for gifting to @RunnymedeandWeybridgefoodbank and @Walton&HershamFoodbank. Packed by Santa’s elves and labelled ‘For Mum from Santa” soroptimists in @weybridge, @waltononthames and @molesey hope to spread some joy and goodwill to the hard pressed families in our district on Christmas day. Our Women against Violence (WAV) team are really busy hoisting flags, putting up posters and arranging the #orangetheworld cafe crawl on the Thames from Cowey Sale, Walton to amplify the  Surrey clubs work in the southern England region to end violence against women over #16daysofactivism each and every year. Show your solidarity with orange ribbons, posters and share our posts to widen the information sharing and impact action.   Save the date  – 25th November start of club activism to unite in solidarity with women and girls suffering violence.     

Santa’s Elves are preparing gifts for ‘Mum’ with Elmbridge based Soroptimists

Santa’s Elves are preparing gifts for ‘Mum’ with Elmbridge based Soroptimists

in Tags

Local soroptimists will once again help Santa’s elves supplying gift filled  ‘Elf Hats’ for Mothers for the local Foodbanks. The hats which cost £16 were really well received last year, ensuring mums had a present from “Santa” to open at Christmas. The plan is to fill the hats at our November 16th meeting and to have them hand sewn by our seamstress elf Jeannie, with labels added “For Mum love Santa” they can then be delivered by month end.  We invite you to join in this project and fill a hat for donation. SI Weybridge  will donate a £10 food gift voucher to each hat we fill to a maximum of £400, so don’t delay. Kindly email soroptimistsweybridge@gmail.com by 10 November to obtain the bank details and remit the cost of the contents £16 (inc. hat) to bank in good time. Please give ‘Elfhat’ (and your initials or

Soroptimists learn about UN defined “gender apartheid” in Afghanistan first hand

Soroptimists learn about UN defined “gender apartheid” in Afghanistan first hand

in Tags

Yesterday SIGBI Day of Action, Southern region met near Winchester. Member Helen Porter spoke about her positive experience as a Soroptimist delegate attending UN CSW 67 in New York and highlighted next years theme as being so aligned with SI charitable goals, that of ‘poverty’. This was followed by a passionate and truly humbling presentation by the former Women’s Minister in Afghanistan. A Soroptimist, Hasina outlined the realities in Afghanistan since the Taliban assumed control. The lack of humanity shown and shortages in food, utilities, medicines and water is impacting all but especially women and widows who have no menfolk. Students and girls who have no access to education and those who live in fear following their involvement with peace and international liaison are living in constant distress. Women are dying early due to lack of access to healthcare and medicines. Hasina’s international evacuee links

Foodbanks value Soroptimist gift of Factor 50 Sun Cream

Foodbanks value Soroptimist gift of Factor 50 Sun Cream

in Tags

Following club member donations and cash generated at the Oatlands Fair competition, 100 Bottles of Factor 50 Sunscreen were purchased by soroptimist Brenda; shoppers in Morrisons saw her accosted by staff as she cleared the shelves!  After a moments explanation she continued her purchase….Morrisons are such good supporters of the foodbanks and charities generally. On 14th June Brenda and Jeannie delivered 50 to Walton & Hersham foodbank; it was very gratefully received arriving just ahead of the hot summer weather. Ann D and Brenda gathered the other 50 bottles  for delivery to Runnymede (Weybridge)  foodbank. Colin and his team were very appreciative of the donation, especially as now sunscreen is an expensive item. The bottles were weighed for distribution. We were informed many would go to the distribution centre at Ambleside Avenue as this is a very busy collection point. Today SIGBI received an email…

Soroptimists ‘cream it’ for charity at Weybridge Community Fair on June 24th

Soroptimists ‘cream it’ for charity at Weybridge Community Fair on June 24th

in Tags

After several weeks of Soroptimist liaison with Elmbridge CAN at the fantastic Weybridge Community Centre, we have a team ready to bake and host a superb Cream Tea and Prosecco pop-up venue with our Ukrainian partners. The festival is in full swing and the Pop-Up Cream Tea venue is open from 12pm to 6pm on June 24th. Open to all… come by when you’re shopping in town. Arrive early to enjoy the best choice of home baked gateaux, scones, cakes and children’s treats, a chilled glass of prosecco even! Come later to rest your feet or buy any residual cakes. Every £ you spend will aid the sterling work of Elmbridge CAN a community, volunteer-powered, non-party political charity,  based in Elmbridge. They aim to build a culture of welcome to refugees within the local community, and work to achieve the settlement of more refugees in the Borough

#Soroptimists shone bright at Oatlands Village Fayre, Weybridge

#Soroptimists shone bright at Oatlands Village Fayre, Weybridge

in Tags

The sun may have been hiding much of the day but #Soroptimists from SI Weybridge and District shone bright at Oatlands Village Fayre on Saturday 13th May. Following the advert in the fayre booklet (very kindly inserted by Andrew) attendance at the booth was brisk. Handmade Maripula bags and cushion covers (from our SI sisters in South Africa), tomato/sunflower plants, home grown organic rhubarb, a book sale, a children’s competition and wonderful company attracted fayre goers to come along and chat. Brenda (and Paul..) created a fabulous showcase of our last years work in the club and worked hard to highlight and man the booth with Jeannie and Alexis. Mary and the team helped galvanise visitors and ensured the day went with panache; a good profit was made on the day for the club charity account and Alexis is summing up the sale profits to

Soroptimists showcase their friendship and work in Weybridge in new Member Month

Soroptimists showcase their friendship and work in Weybridge in new Member Month

in Tags

May is Membership Month in Soroptimist Clubs in the SI GB&N.Ireland region We have been delighted to welcome 4 new club members in Elmbridge region this last year, Mary, Caroline, Jean and Hasina. At our AGM Mary welcomed most recent new Soroptimists Jean and Hasina who elected to join after joining in with some of our events and learning about the projects we do as a local club. We will be hosting regular monthly ‘Orange Cafes’ to meet women who’d like to hear more and join us as we attract more members. Get in touch at any time via the QR Code and Contact Us tab, we meet every month in Cobham. Meet on Saturday 13th May Soroptimists have a stand this Saturday at Oatlands Village Fayre, come along and meet us, buy organic rhubarb, sunflower plants, beautiful handmade Maripula tapestry items from South Africa,

Afghan Women’s Minster joins Soroptimists in Elmbridge

Afghan Women’s Minster joins Soroptimists in Elmbridge

in Tags

Former Afghan Women’s Minster Ms Hasina Safi was delighted to accept Honorary Membership of Weybridge & District Soroptimist Club yesterday. We have been so moved to hear from her first hand at recent meetings about the situation in country and her knowledge of women’s issues following Taliban rule. Hasina a refugee in our region brings in depth knowledge of the history of women’s rights in the troubled region. As a child refugee herself fleeing to Pakistan with her parents only to return as the Russians left, she now finds herself again displaced and working for women’s human rights and peace from another country, Britain. Hasina and the many refugees who arrived in Britain in 2021 and since experience and continue to have trauma associated with the sudden change  in situation and liberties arising from Taliban rule, the daily knowledge of suffering back ‘home’ and the consequences