Federation Workshops

For this year’s convention, we are delighted to announce another new initiative, the Federation Workshops.

We are very grateful to all our Federation’s who have approached this task with enthusiasm, putting a great deal of thought, time and energy into the format and quality of their workshops. Each Federation has gone to great length to recruit exciting speakers to delivery informative and engaging workshops in an inclusive and fun environment. In order to give an opportunity to support as many workshops as possible, workshops will be run on Thursday afternoon and repeated again on Friday morning, see convention programme for further details.

Federation Workshop
Soroptimist International of the Americas

Quality Education

Thursday 27th July: 5pm – 6pm
&
Friday 28th July: 11.45am – 12.45pm
Venue: room name TBA

Description: Soroptimist International of the Americas has had a long commitment to our mission of providing women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. Learn about the power of our two signature Dream Programs – the Live Your Dream Award and Dream It Be It: Career Support for Girls. The Live Your Dream Award is a cash grant, provided by local clubs and given to qualifying women who are the primary financial support for their families, have financial need and are enrolled or have been accepted to a vocational/skills training program or an undergraduate degree program. The award is given to help offset tuition costs, purchase books, get transportation, find reliable childcare or other expenses so the recipient can worry less about paying her bills and focus on reaching her educational dreams. Local club winners can receive additional grants from their region and SIA. The Dream It Be It: Career Support for Girls is a program facilitated at the local club level that gives girls the tools they need to achieve their education and career goals, empowering them to break the cycles of poverty, violence, and abuse. Our Dream Programs and local projects not only increase access to education, but also help prevent the circumstances that make women and girls susceptible to gendered violence such as trafficking and intimate partner violence. Together, this impactful combination helps us challenge the future and build a more gender equal world together.
Presenters to be determined.

Learning Objectives:
• Attendees will increase their knowledge of SIA’s impact.
• Attendees will increase their understanding of the preventative power of education.

Federation Workshop
Soroptimist International Africa Federation

Good Health and Wellbeing

Thursday 27th July: 5pm – 6pm
&
Friday 28th July: 11.45am – 12.45pm
Venue: room name TBA

Description: SIAF has decided to partner with the United Nations Health4Life Fund for the elimination of Cervical Cancer in Africa. SIAF has decided to go big in terms of the health of our girl children, and to save women’s lives by putting an end to cervical cancer.
Cervical Cancer is preventable but most women in Africa have limited or no access to vaccination, screening and treatment. Women are dying needlessly especially in the Sub Saharan countries. Yet, cost-effective solutions exist, and countries worldwide have now signed on to WHO’s global elimination strategy. Together, we can change the status quo. As Soroptimists, we will be:
Raising funds that can be earmarked through the Health4Life Fund and dedicated to supporting governments and their partners in Africa to implement the cervical cancer elimination strategy through projects that are multi-stakeholder and cross-sectoral in nature (as per the Health4Life operational requirements and governance which ensures a transparent decision-making process undertaken by the Fund’s Steering Committee of UN agencies and contributing Member States).

Advocating for cervical cancer screening of women and vaccination of girls. The advocacy messaging would be supported by UNFPA and the Health4Life Fund secretariat and can be implemented as and where appropriate in the countries where SIAF is present.

Participating in country-level action, where relevant, by engaging with the government and UN partners for the grant proposal development and/or implementation ensuring that the voice of women is heard. This would happen once sufficient funding is available on Pillar 4 of the Health4Life Fund (H4LF). In addition to the financial resources that Soroptimists would be able to contribute, H4LF will be mobilizing additional resources to complement these Funds.

Presenters: Siaf President Jalila, Linda Merieau WHO, Connie Mutunhu SIAF

Federation Workshop
Soroptimist International South East Asia Pacific

Climate Change:
Women Leading the Way

Thursday 27th July: 5pm – 6pm
&
Friday 28th July: 11.45am – 12.45pm
Venue: room name TBA

Description: Women’s interconnectedness within the community shows that we are well placed to educate and inspire change needed for a sustainable world.

Women educate their families and their communities by example.
Do you know what climate change means?
Do you understand how climate change can impact your community?
Do you want to know how your actions can help address climate change?

You can make a difference!

Come prepared to join in our interactive sessions, as you listen, learn and help formulate policy and practical actions to take home with you.

Federation Workshop
Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland

Life on Land

Thursday 27th July: 5pm – 6pm
&
Friday 28th July: 11.45am – 12.45pm
Venue: room name TBA

Description: Growing our way towards food security“. (SDG’s 2 and 15)

“A flourishing life on land is the foundation for our life on this planet. We are all part of the planet’s ecosystem and we have caused severe damage to it through deforestation, loss of natural habitats and land degradation. Promoting a sustainable use of our ecosystems and preserving biodiversity is not a cause. It is the key to our own survival”.

Forests and rangelands sustain a range of industries, generate jobs and income and act as a source of food, medicine and fuel for more than a billion people.”
We ask the question,
Can we grow ourselves out of trouble?

SIGBI during this workshop will share some of their programme work that have responded to these issues including 2 tree planting projects and will explore other practical and innovative initiatives that could be replicated across the federations, not only tackling SDG 15 and climate change, but also helping to alleviate food poverty (SDG 2).

Presenters: to be determined

Learning objectives:
• Attendees will increase their knowledge of SDG’s 2 and 15
• Attendees will learn more about the SIGBI projects that have worked towards this theme
• Attendees will learn about some practical applications that can be used individually and at club level

Federation Workshop
Soroptimist International Europe

Gender Equality
Brave women for a bright future

Thursday 27th July: 5pm – 6pm
&
Friday 28th July: 11.45am – 12.45pm
Venue: room name TBA

Description: Meet women from a courageous Europe, determined women who meet challenges and backlash on women’s rights every day but choose to go for hope and solidarity.

Meet women living our motto,
”We stand up for Women”

Equal rigths for women and men is a prerequisite as already stated in the UN Charter for peace, development and the principles of equality of rights and respect for human dignity. This is confirmed in CEDAW, stating that the role of women in procreation should not be a basis for discrimination, although discrimination on the basis of sex against women still continues to exist. In the Sustainable Development Goals women’s rights go throughout all goals. Women’s rights are human rights.

Women’s organisations have proven to be agents of change for a better society, and we still are.
Meet them, learn from them, join them. Let us take action together!

Réka Safrany, EWL acting – 2000 women’s organisations for a feminist future.
President of the European Women’s Lobby, EWL

Dr Salome Mbugua, Women’s human rights for Sustainable Development – free and fantastic change makers
CEO – AkiDwA, The Migrants Women’s Network Ireland

Carolien Demey, It can be done – and we will
President of the Soroptimist International Europe, SIE

Gertrud Åström, moderator
SIE representative to the EWL