Advancing Women Beyond Borders European Mentoring Programme


Christine Cromwell-Ahrens, Editor, The Link, reports


It all began in a fairytale-like Castle Schöneberg in Bensheim, Germany in mid-September, when 24 young women from Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and Sweden met for the three day Kick- Off Seminar of the European Mentoring Programme 2010. The event marked the


beginning of the nine month mentoring programme, laying the groundwork for successful training, co-operation and networking. “We felt somewhat awkward


at first with so many strong personalities gathered together, but we quickly focused because there was a lot to be done,” wrote the delegation of Belgian mentees (Christina Elvers, Liesbeth De Waele, Natalie Van Praet and Sarah


Vermeulen). “We want to make the most out of this amazing opportunity!” SIE’s partner in this programme – EAF (translated European Academy for Women in Politics and Business) – provided professional trainers throughout the weekend. In addition to the official programme, this first meeting gave participants a chance to meet each other on a personal level. “Different nationalities give an extra dimension to this programme,” said mentee Hedda Malm from Sweden. Besides building the mentee-mentor relationship, the idea is to build a network among mentees across borders and to inform them about the Soroptimist ideals. “We really appreciated the


Helping Women Achieve Their Dreams


Annabeth Studer Meyer, Chair, SIE Scholarship Fund, reports


Thanks to the SIE scholarship El Hajjaji Souad from the Rabat Single Club in Morocco was able to attend a six-month course at the German Research Centre for Environmental Health.


Alongside numerous projects and programmes aimed at furthering the education and training of women and girls, especially in Africa and Eastern Europe, SIE and its individual Unions and Clubs have long invested in Education and Leadership by awarding various scholarships and grants. In the year 2008-2009 alone, scholarships totalled more than €350,000.


of the SIE Board to grant 14 scholarships from 30 applicants for a total sum of €72,000 for 2010. The applications came from 17 Unions and six single clubs. These scholarships are of enormous value – both for the empowerment of women and for a greater visibility of Soroptimist International.


At the SIE annual meeting in Ghent this summer, the Governors of the Federation approved the suggestions


further training.


The Federation’s Scholarship Fund was established in 1968. Since then women and girls of all ages and from countless fields have received financial aid for their studies or for


Each year applications are submitted for a sum of around €200,000. About €70,000 are available from the Fund to distribute each year. The Federation hopes to increase this amount in the future. It also intends to create a database of the scholarships to evaluate how it is helping women and girls to better follow the careers of the grantees and generally to improve information. In addition, this database will include the scholarships and grants offered by individual


Unions and single clubs. In 2008-2009 alone this figure surpassed €265,000. In connection with its Dr Noël Fund in honour of Dr Susanne Noël, the French plastic surgeon who was instrumental in bringing SI to Europe, the Federation also regularly awards grants to women studying or working in the field of plastic surgery.


way trainer Birte Raske helped us gain a clear vision about ourselves,” said the Luxembourg mentees Vanessa de Bartolomeo, Jennifer Saffran and Isabell Scherer. EAF trainer Manuela Möller described the methodology of the mentoring programme to assist the mentees decide what they expect to gain from the relationship. Each participant seemed to


Mentees, mentors and organisers at the Kick-Off meeting in Bensheim Parallel to the programme


take home something special from the seminar. “Although all of us were quite different in age, nationality, profession and interests, we were united in our enthusiasm for this diversity and curiosity to learn from each other,” commented German mentee Ulla Hüppe.


for mentees in Bensheim, many of the mentors participating in the now expanded SIE programme received instruction on the role and responsibilities of mentoring. The national groups have since met in their respective countries for further professional training. German mentee Verena Münsberg remarked after returning from the second meeting in Melsungen: “My head and heart are full of new impressions and insights. The hours we spent together were demanding, exhausting and infinitely precious. I am very happy to be part of this wonderful group.” That says it all.


SIE


SIE


Education offers women and girls the possibility to grow as individuals and to earn their own livelihood. It is tangible help to improve their lives.


TIS December 2010 Page 9


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