UNICEF, SIGBI & FAWGAM


SIGBI


It’s 21 years since the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was passed, spelling out the basic rights of children and underpinning UNICEF’s work. UNICEF and Soroptimists share the same vision, that through education, particularly of girls, we help lift communities out of poverty. I saw this in The Gambia where FAWGAM, the Federation of African Women in Education, Gambia branch, works with UNICEF to provide small amounts of money for “Mothers Clubs”. These Clubs, based on schools, encourage school attendance by lending money to mothers to start up businesses. Money is used for printing materials, for a sewing business making school uniforms, for soap making and for a group to purchase and maintain a milling machine.


UNICEF is the world’s leading organisation working for children. UNICEF works with families, communities and Governments in more than 190 countries to help every child realise their full potential. Jane Hastings, UKPAC/UNICEF Liaison, reports on their partnership with Soroptimists:


These small enterprises give mothers an income and get children into school rather than wandering the streets or helping in the fields. Club Mothers also exert “peer pressure” on the mothers of non-attenders, encouraging their children to go to school too.


Some of the leading women in FAWGAM were members of SI Banjul; practical ladies coming up with great ideas to help women and children. And that is repeated across the world, UNICEF and Soroptimists coming up with sensible, practical ideas.


Over the next 5 years UNICEF’s priorities are: 1. The right to survive: every year more than 9 million children die before reaching their 5th birthday, mainly from preventable causes such as malnutrition, diarrhoea and malaria. 2. Basic education and gender equality: more than 100 million children, mainly girls, miss out on primary education. 3. HIV/AIDS:15 million young people have lost one or both parents to AIDS. 4. Child protection: 300 million children worldwide are subject to violence, exploitation and abuse. 5. Children in emergencies: for over 60 years UNICEF has delivered lifesaving help for children in emergencies worldwide. SI has worked with UNICEF on all these areas. SIGBI has provided funding for, and raised awareness of: Malaria, Tetanus, Girls’ Education, Schools in a Box, Trafficking and HIV/AIDS.


Jane Hastings (second left) with UNICEF staff from London and the Gambia


As times get tougher, it’s more important than ever to be confident about your charitable giving. UNICEF’s credibility is without question, it is one of the most trusted and influential organisations in the world. Yet it remains entirely dependant on voluntary contributions from individuals and groups such as ours. We have a wonderful relationship with UNICEF working together to improve the lives of women and girls. Long may it continue!


INTERNATIONAL Life changing laptops


SIA


The partnership was highlighted by the gift of 25 IBM laptops to the Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity programme.


Jackson Hewitt’s Chief Technology Officer and Debra Dowd, VP of Marketing hosted an enthusiastic group that included Jackson Hewitt CEO Harry Buckley, SIA President Cathy Standiford, Soroptimists, business leaders and media. The match is based on the goal of economic empowerment for women. This gift provides an essential tool as 25 women advance their educations, search for employment and


TIS June 2010 Page 6 Danamichele Brennen,


In November, a media event in Sarasota, Florida unveiled a new partnership between SI of the Americas and Jackson Hewitt LLC, America’s second largest tax preparation firm. Debra Beach, SIA Fundraising Director, reports:


help their children with school assignments. Jackson Hewitt is committed to women’s economic empowerment. Over 75 per cent of its customers are women who are heads of their households – responsible for their dependants. This new, user-friendly, low-cost programme that educates women about tax law, ensures that they understand how to get the tax return they are entitled to and it walks them through the process. Each year, Soroptimist helps


more than 1,100 women with more than US$1.4 million in Women’s Opportunity Awards at Club, Region and Federation


level. The money means a lot to these women, as does the recognition by professional women that their dreams for economic opportunity through education are important. The Women’s Opportunity Award is transformative. IT is the engine that drives much of our educational system. Whether it’s internet access, word processing or email communication with faculty, students who lack basic technology face serious challenges. The recipients already face huge obstacles. A personal laptop is a


gateway to educational achievement that goes beyond


money and certificates, so SIA began donating laptops to recipients in 2009. Fiscal restraints did not allow a budget for laptops in 2010. Thanks to one New York


Times advertisement (and to SIA Board taking the risk to fund it), to the compassion of Danamichele Brennan, (Jackson Hewitt) and to the Soroptimist mission, 28 region- level Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity Award recipients received new laptops this year. SIA continues conversations


with Jackson Hewitt to explore other ways that they can work together to improve the lives of women and girls.


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