The story of Soroptimism began almost 93 years ago. The First World War had wrought many changes to lives of women and by necessity many were required to hold key jobs. By 1920 they had proved that they were capable to holding positions of great importance and the stage was set for women to get to know each other on a professional as well as a social basis and to provide help and support to their sisters throughout the world. This they would do by organizing Clubs exclusively for women.
Above all Soroptimism is about helping women and children who are less fortunate than ourselves and helping to give them a future.
However it is a man that initially Soroptimists must thank for getting the movement up and running.
The seeds were sown in Oakland, California by a Rotarian, Stuart Morrow. He was a professional organizer and on a visit to a Secretarial College in Oakland found to his ‘amazement’ – his word not ours – that the head of the College was a woman. The result of that first meeting and subsequent discussions was the launching of the first Soroptimist Club on October 3, 1921.
Soroptimist is derived from the Latin ‘Soro’ meaning sister/woman and ‘optima’ meaning best and is interpreted as ‘the best for women or the best of sisters’.
Under the guiding hand of Stuart Morrow the movement soon spread across America, then to Britain where the first club was formed in Central London in 1924, then to Europe and later to Australia in 1937.
Today Soroptimist International is a world wide organisation, originally for women in management and the professionals, but now open to all, who work through service projects to advance human rights and the status of women. The movement spans 125 countries and territories and there are more than 90,000 members in 3,000 clubs who are using their professional expertise and diverse talents to help others and to work for social change. Soroptimist International is made up of four Federations: Great Britain and Ireland which includes several countries in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean; the Americas; South West Pacific and Europe.
The heart of Soroptimist work is Programme Action and through the 3A’s – Awareness, Advocacy and Action, members aim to provide support and funds to others that they might fulfil their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. The structure is such that projects, research and lobbying which clubs undertake worldwide contribute directly to international policies through our representatives at the United Nations – something of which we are very proud. We hold General Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and we have representatives at UN Centres in New York, Geneva, Vienna, ,with UNESCO (United Nations Education , Scientific and Cultural Organisations) in Paris, and with FAO (Food, Agriculture Organisation) in Rome. Also the UN Environmental Programme in Nairobi.
Soproptimist International has accreditation with the High Commissioner for Refugees and works in partnership with other United Nations agencies as an international non-governmental organisation. And we have official relations with the World Health Organisation.
Soroptimist International is not a fundraising organisation, we are a women’s service organisation…..although we do fundraise to support causes – particularly international ones. In the past we have worked with the International Red Cross on a joint Limbs for Life programme and raised over £1million for the victims of landmines in Afghanistan, Angola and Georgie.
Soroptimists have helped prevent the spread of AIDS in Thailand by giving young women occupational training and scholarships so that they do not have to enter the sex trade. They have built eye clinics in Bangaladesh in collaboration with Sight Savers to prevent pre-school children going blind. We have helped the poorest women and children in the highlands of Peru by providing health services; Provided safe water for many villages in Senegal; provided education and training for girls and young women in Sierra Leone; supporting and fundraising to provide maternity and birthing conditions in the Gambia. Many of these projects have been setup and overseen by Soroptimists . The current President of Soroptimist International, Anne Garvie of SI Glasgow Central, has as her international project ‘See Solar, Cook Solar’ . This will support Soroptimist projects all over the world that educate women about renewable energy and will empower and enable opportunities for them by providing solar lanterns and cookers.
Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI) has clubs throughout the UK with around 10 in central and greater London. Club members meet once or twice a month to discuss and progress their own projects locally and meet up frequently with other clubs and at the annual SIGBI conference to be held in Harrogate in 2014.
Clubs also support work and raise awareness of projects and issues in their own local communities. For instance SI East London has looked into violence against women, trafficking of people, food banks, and had speakers from organisations working with the homeless and those affected by drug and alcohol abuse.
But Soroptimism is not all serious business. Members have fun at fund-raising evenings and social outings. And lasting friendships are made and bonds forged with likeminded women.
Above all Soroptimism is about helping women and children who are less fortunate than ourselves and helping to give them a future.
As one Soroptimist put it “I have been a member since 1987 and have met women from all over the world who have opened my eyes to so many issues. It is difficult to make a difference on my own. But Soroptimist International as a global network of women share my ambition and this keeps me motivated to keep trying – and we do succeed.”
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