A yellow sunflower for August

Sunflowers stand tall and reach for the sun…

so should all women and girls!

2015-2020

September 2015 – adoption of 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 5:  Gender Equality

In the UK: Measures to prevent Female Genital Mutilation strengthened (2015)

In the UK: Mandatory Gender Pay Gap Reporting introduced (2017)

Since 1976 SI Woking has supported a wide range of projects and charities, at home and abroad. They include:

Girlguiding – ESDAS East Surrey Domestic Abuse Services – Shifa – Home  Start RAW 

Girls in STEM/STEM Challenge – Hillcroft Bursary Fund – Liaise

Surrey Community First Fund

Violence against women and girls

“On average, one woman is killed by a man every 3 days in the UK”        –        Femicide Census: https://www.femicidecensus.org/about/

Orange Cafe on Friday, 25th September 2026

We asked people to ‘say no to violence against women and girls – and they did!

This month we are highlighting harassment – no-one should suffer this.

We’re very glad to see that Hamlin Fistula Trust is now helping women in Mozambique, as well as Ethiopia.

Soon, we will be sending another 12 blankets to Hamlin Fistula Trust.

Lend With Care

Our World Region Federation (SIGBI) reports that “56 Clubs (we are one of them!) or individual members are now part of the combined SIGBI Team on Lendwithcare…To date, the SIGBI Team has loaned over £98,000 to 4,339 entrepreneurs –  definitely something to celebrate!”

Your Sanctuary

We regularly support Your Sanctuary and this month is no exception.  Jenny delivered 5 bags of food items and £150 donated by members to Your Sanctuary.

SI Southern England Regional Meeting

This time, the meeting was organised by the members of SI Weybridge and District.  We had thought-provoking discussion sessions, updates on Soroptimist International matters and a fascinating – and -poignant talk from the grand-daughter of Odette Hallowes, a very brave womand during the Second World War.

We are delighted to announce a change of name – to SI Southern England and Channel Islands – because the members of Guernsey and Jersey have joined us.

And we congratulate the Soroptimists in Salisbury who have been sending used bras to Africa – 27,500 and counting!  And the Soroptimists of Surrey Hills have supplied emergency toiletries to patients in hospital for 30 years – what a record!