SIA


Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity Awards: It’s not just about the money


Lori Blair, Senior Director of Programme Services, SIA Lisa Boyd


Since 1972, SI of the Americas has helped women who have primary financial responsibility for their dependents to fund their education or job training. The goal is that with increased


education, women will secure employment that provides an improved standard of living for their families. But we know from past recipients that although the cash award is needed and valued, the boost to self-confidence that recipients feel when they win the award is equally valuable. The programme objectives are to: •Increase the number of women who receive the resources to access education/skills training. •Increase women’s sense of self- esteem and self-confidence. •Increase the number of women who earn an educational degree/ certification.


•Increase the number of women with secure employment. •Improve the standard of living for women and their dependents. •Increase the number of women who serve as role models for their dependants. Each year,1000 women


receive nearly US$1.4 million to support their education and job training. They consistently complete their education and secure stable jobs. But a recent survey of past recipients confirmed the other objectives as well. Of the respondents, 100 per cent stated that they had an increased self-esteem and self-confidence and now serve as role models for their dependents. Even the women that did not complete their education still experience the other benefits. One woman who didn’t finish


her education due to illness and used her award to start a small family business stated “I believe I already am a winner because I can provide comfort for my beloved family. The US$3,000 that I won was the foundation for everything—the beginning of a dream of being self sufficient and able to provide food, medication, school and leisure for my family.” One woman who was


successful in school and secured a good job said: “I love my work. I love making a difference. I love who I have become. My kids say things like “when I go to college;” not “if I go to college… “Your gift has not only


changed my life, but the lives of those around me and countless lives in my community. I am grateful to you all for your help.


For more information visit: http://www.soroptimist.org/awards/awards.html. SIE Support for Professional Women


Refugees building a new career Joy Groosman, Programme Director, Dutch Union and Ally de Vries


Being a refugee not only means the loss of family, home and roots, it can also make a professional life and income insecure. A new homeland doesn’t automatically mean that qualifications are recognised. Very often one has to qualify again, partly or entirely. The Dutch Union helps professional women with scholarships and coaching programmes, in partnership with a foundation. Scholarships for refugees are


not new in the Netherlands, the University Asylum Foundation (UAF), for instance, has helped refugees since 1948. For young people, grants can be linked with existing national systems, but these formal procedures are not designed for immigrants who already had a professional career. This means that they can expect official and financial difficulties when they have


TIS December 2010 Page 10 Some of the women involved in the SIE refugee project


to fill educational gaps, for example because their diplomas and experience are not fully recognised; this often happens, even if they are very well qualified and have outstanding working experience.


came to an agreement with the UAF, promising to raise funds which would enable highly qualified women refugees to bring their professional status in accordance with Dutch academic and professional conditions, even if this meant that they had to complete


In 2007 the Dutch Union


their entire study again... but the Soroptimists did more: they opened their offices, laboratories, schools and hospitals for training purposes and they offer help with language problems and job applications. Many Soroptimists act as mentors for the refugee women to find their way both personally and professionally in this complicated society. When the partnership started, the Dutch Union had two important intentions. It would try to raise as much as €400,000 (US$550,000) and


combination, labelled as a project, with the title Hidden Treasures. Strictly speaking there was no real project, nor clear goals or strict activities and planning. It was a serious but adventurous undertaking, offering ideas and lots of hands- on initiatives. It worked so well, that with 10 months to go, the target amount of €400,000 is almost secured.


certainly came to light was the bonding between Soroptimists and women refugees. Of 900 women refugees in the UAF-programme during this period, 300 made contact with Soroptimists, some have even became members; an excellent result for the women refugees and the Dutch Soroptimists.


A hidden treasure which


support efforts directed towards a better understanding between club members and refugees. Both intentions were, in


Thank you doesn’t begin to express my gratitude.” Lisa Boyd, a federation finalist


from 2010, appreciated the importance of being recognised by a group of professional women; Receiving the award at the Soroptimist 41st Biennial Convention, Lisa said, “My children are an integral part of my journey and growth and they were fortunate to be in the room when I received the first two awards (club and region) and when they turned and saw all the power in that room – and women in power in a room are different than men in a power – they had a new view of the world and women.”


encourage more than 1000 clubs in SIA to participate in this programme each year.


It is stories like these that


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