Worldwide Sorop- timist Friendships: Ellen Nielsen (left) from Denmark with Felicitas Hubert who was originally from SI Pretoria in South Africa and is now a member of SI Taunus in Germany.


Romanian friends about human trafficking and asked them to raise awareness about it in their clubs and communities. They were reluctant, as they feared retaliation from those involved in organised human trafficking in Romania, but little by little they took up the issue; now clubs inform students about the risks of trafficking, and they work together with the authorities, the police, social workers and local governments to raise awareness amongst at–risk groups. The Danish Union provides financial support to help the clubs in this important work and the Romanian Union has been given a further €10,000 for projects against human trafficking. Friendship makes the fight against injustice stronger! Progress has been achieved little by little,


“10 years ago, we started to tell our


been for Soroptimist International. The reason why this friendship link is so potent is that we are all united through our mission of transforming women and girls. Our work underlines our reason for being together, and for me, makes the work and play the sweeter when sharing with women with the same vision. I cherish the diversity of our membership... every member and every club has its unique culture and while we are working toward the theme of Education and Leadership for Women and Girls, every club claims its voice in the ‘on the ground work’ that it does”. Dawn Marie Lemonds International Programme Director, Soroptimist International.


Bonds between cultures Soroptimism is about solidarity, international goodwill and understanding, and opportunities. Tonny Filedt Kok, a member of SI Amsterdam Centre/West, tells TIS: “Combining your profession with Soroptimist activities is extremely rewarding and a way of experiencing true Soroptimist friendship. Working on a project in Gujarat, India from 1998-2005, I used to pass through Mumbai where SIGBI had three clubs. In 2001 I called one of the presidents, and we arranged a meeting. I was keen to get to know


Soroptimists in Mumbai, to exchange experiences and see if we could collaborate on a project. The idea was born to set up a Friendship Link. Back home in the Netherlands, I told my club about our idea, and we decided it was feasible


in trust and in friendship. I cannot imagine a bigger friendship between individuals involved in a joint humanitarian mission, than that which the Romanian and Danish clubs have developed over the last 20 years. The Romanian Soroptimists will stay as our best friends. As one student who visited said, we have learned more about each other, our societies and rich culture, than 1000 books can describe.”


because I would be able to have frequent contact with the club. Our Friendship Link with SI Mumbai North was established in 2001. Club members offered me home hospitality and we discussed Soroptimist topics such as how to attract new young members and how to make the club more transparent. One member also visited our club meeting.”


Soroptimist International Friendship means everything to me and continuously fuels my commitment and enjoyment of our organisation. I have been inspired, stretched, challenged, supported, and loved by women from all over the world who would never have entered my life had it not


have visited Soroptimists in many countries and experienced first hand the friendship and hospitality that so characterises our organisation. At club level you would expect to see this warmth, but the true rewards of being a Soroptimist become even more apparent when you extend your involvement beyond the local level. Being a Soroptimist means sharing a common bond beyond national, language or cultural barriers. Friendship is indeed the very essence of Soroptimism. Eliane Lagasse, President, SIE


Since the founding of my club, SI Southeast Flanders in Belgium, in 1988, I


SI Mumbai North is a very active club with many good projects. My club decided to support their nutrition project in a school for underprivileged children, donating a total of €14,000 over six years. In the Netherlands we sold cookery booklets prepared by the Indian Soroptimists. All 1000 copies I brought back from India were sold! SI Leeds, another Friendship Link, organised a fundraising high tea with great success. Collaboration among Friendship Links is a viable method of supporting good projects. In 2010 25 Soroptimists from Denmark and the Netherlands participated in a Study Tour. The programme was jointly prepared with the Indian Soroptimists and featured visits to clubs and two charters, presided over by the then SIGBI President Jackie Mosedale. The enthusiastic participants all became ambassadors for India! In the meantime, support for Indian projects has no doubt widened – thanks to the friendships formed during these wonderful personal encounters.


There is hardly a place you can go in the world and not have a connection with a Soroptimist or someone who knows a Soroptimist. What a powerful network this can be! We are there for one another in good times and challenging times. That is who we are and that is what we do! Alice Wells, President Elect, Soroptimist International, pictured with Sandra Dannefeldt, a Soroptimist from Alice’s region in SIA who now lives in Melbourne, Australia.


TIS March 2011 Page 7


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12