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 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

A ceramic yellow flower for August The effects of climate change mean fewer real flowers this summer * * * * * * * 2010 – 2015, more laws strengthen protection for women  Domestic Violence Protection Notices and Orders Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (Clare’s Law) Sentencing to take account of psychological and longer-term effects of  a sex offence on a victim Council of Europe ‘Istanbul’ Convention: ‘violence against women a violation f human rights and a form of discrimination’ From 2013, the Black Lives Matter movement began to focus on rights for black women In 2016, 45% of academics are female, but only female professors account for only 22% In 2016, 29% of MPs are women. In world rankings of women in parliament, the UK is 39th *** Since 1976 SI Woking has supported a wide range of projects and charities, at home and abroad.

  A yellow rose for July – the universal symbol of friendship Soroptimists have friends in other Clubs all over the world * * * * * * * 2005 – 2010, a growing awareness of the harm done to women  Groups such as the ‘End Violence Against Women Coalition’ began to call for government action, resulting in The National Domestic Violence Delivery Plan and the Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy. The Equality Acts of 2006 and 2010 consolidated women’s rights in law From 2006, the Me Too Movement created a huge momentum in favour of women’s rights Since 1976 SI Woking has supported a wide range of projects and charities, at home and abroad. They include: Toilet Twinning (Zambia) – EdUKaid Heshima Project – Hamlin Fistula Trust Educational Bee Project – Recycling Medical Blisters – Women, Water and Leadership Project Anti-FGM Campaign and

June 2026 Golden hedgerow flowers – You may not see them, but they’re there… Soroptimists too are not always visible in their community… Since the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing China and the adoption of the Platform for Action,   the UN Commission on the Status of Women (now UN Women) has sought to improve every aspect of life for women During 1995-2000, there were many ‘historic firsts’  for girls and women Dame Stella Rimington, first woman to lead the UK’s Security Service MI5 Women allowed to serve on Royal Navy Submarines Many more girls entered primary education ____________ Since 1976 SI Woking has supported a wide range of projects and charities, at home and abroad. They include: SOS Children’s Village, Mamelodi (South Africa) –  Mary’s Meals Backpack Project See Solar- Cook Solar – Purple Community Fund (Sri Lanka/Africa)   – Smalls for All Meru Women’s

May 2026 1993 saw as many women as men enrol in higher education In 1994, a new law made rape in marriage a crime The 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing China was a landmark event ____________ Since 1976 SI Woking has supported a wide range of projects and charities, at home and abroad. They include: Anna Goulden Trust (Peru) – Birthing in the Gambia and the Pacific – Water Aid  Life Straws – Barbara Watts VIP Project (South Africa) Hope for Girls and Women FGM Safe House (Tanzania)   Women and climate change Water for All People: Equal Rights and Opportunities – the UN World Water Development Report came out in March 2026. Women are often in charge of collecting and managing water for the family.  But they are less often in charge of  managing the overall supply of water. The inequalities between

  April  ‘Fantasy Flowers’ a work of imagination by a local artist and erstwhile Soroptimist Whatever you do, you can be a Soroptimist   1985 was the last year in the United Nations Decade for Women The decade began when 1975 was designated International Women’s Year. Since then, 8 March has been International Women’s Day 1990 saw the start of Independent taxation for all married women. Since then, married women and single women have been treated alike – with independence and privacy ____________ Since 1976 SI Woking has supported a wide range of projects and charities, including: Ockenden Trust/International, Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline,    Emergency Committee for the Victims of the Earthquake in Afghanistan, Refugees and Victims of the War in Ukraine Enough Campaign The UK government’s latest campaign to prevent violence by men against women and girls.  More here The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme The

Orange Cafe We were at Costa Coffee, Goldsworth Park, Woking on 25 July 2025 to raise awareness about: combating violence against women and girls self-protection – make sure you have personal emergency contacts to hand, not just in your phone self-protection – what to do online Soroptimist International Southern England We had a great time at the last Regional Meeting of SI Southern England in Salisbury in June. The guest speaker spoke eloquently about the many women who have helped her throughout life.  And we were thrilled to applaud the 50 years service of Trefenna Mitchell! Now it’s our turn to host the September Regional Meeting.  Preparations are under way. We are looking forward to welcoming our sister Soroptimists for a great day. Women – and girls – at work In both World War 1 and World War 2, women stepped up to the jobs

Plastic-Free July This month is Plastic-Free July –  Will you take the challenge and reduce the plastic you use?  Fill in the survey  here:  https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/ Cyber Crime A representative of Thames Valley Police South East Cyber Crime Unit came to the July Social Meeting.  She told us how widespread cyber crime is and what we can all do about it: Use strong, unique passwords  and think about using a password manager *Always use Two Step Verification (2SV, 2FA, MFA)* Think before you click and email link Consider data back-ups and update devices/software promptly Use privacy settings – especially on Social Media (to reduce giving information to attacker Report a scam/phishing: Send an SMS to 7726 – the message will alert your provider to investigate Send an email to report@phishing.gov.uk Useful links: NCSC Cyber Aware Action Plan: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberaware/actionplan Stop! Think Fraud website: https://stopthinkfraud.campaign.gov.uk/ Check data breaches:

Skittles and Lunch with Shifa We renewed our friendship with the ladies of Shifa at the end in November.  Once again we were at St Andrew’s Church for a get-together.  We were very impressed with the ability of the Shifa ladies to play skittles – we suspect they played a lot of cricket at school! And their food was delicious.