Poole Soroptimist Walks for Water
Poole Soroptimist Liz Rodgers and her son walked for water on 9 May as part of a Dorset WaterAid initiative to raise much needed funds to provide water and safer hygiene and sanitation to some of the world’s poorest nations.
The walk from Studland chain ferry to Swanage was brisk - due to the cool weather - and took in some of Dorset’s finest scenery from atop Ballard Down.
‘Thank you to everyone who supported and sponsored us - we raised over £250 between us and couldn’t have achieved this without you.’ Liz Rodgers, May 2010
Women’s Advancement
SI Poole has a structured mentoring process in place for new members.
Membership of this club provides leadership and management opportunities through project, fund-raising and committee involvement.
Purple Teardrop Campaign Order Form
Our aim is to spread the Purple Teardrop message as far and as wide as we can. We invite Soroptimists to hold workshops and seminars, distribute posters and sell Purple Teardrop pin-badges in their local communities so as to raise awareness and much needed victim support funds.
View our Order Form here and to place an order, print and complete the form and forward with your cheque to the address shown.
Project SIerra
President Penny Bartlett and Programme Action Officer Helen Kanolik were delighted to welcome Anne MacDonald OBE, Quadrennial Project Liaison Officer, to Soroptimist International Poole’s October 2008 programme action meeting.
Soroptimist International Poole has already made several donations to Project SIerra and is continuing to fund raise for the project this year.
Anne described Sierra Leone in some detail. It is amongst the world’s poorest nations and still under recovery from the civil war which destroyed its infrasture and left its population with desperate problems - half the population is aged under 15 years, life expectancy is 41 years and 25% of children don’t live to see their 5th birthday.
She really brought the project alive for us, explaining how our project partner, Hope and Homes for Children oversees the work which is all done by local people to help build the local skills base.
Project SIerra comprises 3 separate projects:
Integrated Child and Family Support
Many children live with elderly and frail grandparents or in single parent families. Using a model of care pioneered in Rwanda, families are assessed for their most urgent needs and are helped to have a means of income. Over 200 families which include 1,000 children are benefitting from this work
Young Mothers
This part of the project helps young, single mothers to reintegrate with their families or to become independent community members through vocational training.
Street Children
More than 50 children are currently being helped in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. Every endeavour is made to reunite children with their family, some of the most vulnerable children being aged as young as 6 years.
Everyone can help Project SIerra by coming along to our fund-raisers, the next being our Wimborne St Giles teas on 23 May.
Purple Teardrop Campaign - How You Can Help
Human Trafficking and the Purple Teardrop Campaign
www.purpleteardrop.org.uk
Order Purple Teardrop Campaign posters, pin-badges and our CD to help raise awareness and fund-raise for victim support.
Read our latest Purple Teardrop Campaign Newsletter.
Human trafficking has overtaken even drugs trafficking in terms of scale. It is a global issue and the consequences for its victims are dire.
Soroptimist International of Poole launched its Purple Teardrop Campaign against Human Trafficking to over 70 leading figures from Poole and Dorset andSoroptimists from across the South of England at Upton House, Poole on 22 September.
The evening’s speakers brought 3 important perspectivesto the issue. Carol Freeman of CHASTE told the audience about the sheer scale of the problem and emphasised how changes in attitude and law can deter traffickers.
Carol’s hard-hitting statistics reminded us that 80% of trafficking victims are female, and 50% of those children.
We were delighted to welcome Sister Ann-Teresa, Founder of the Medaille Trust, who shared with us how the Trust was formed and organised. Her insights into the lives of the women supported at the Trust’s safe houses highlighted how trafficking affects people from many nations and its devastation to their lives. One victim was just 16 years old and, having been snatched by traffickers as an infant, had known no other life.
On a positive note, Sister Ann-Teresa advised that the Trust now successfully operates a network of moving-on accommodation as part of its comprehensive support and care programme.
The third speaker, DI Guy Shimmons from Dorset Police brought a local perspective to the evening and made the audience aware of the trafficking crimes that are committed in Dorset.
DI Shimmons’s examples highlighted the scale and complexity of trafficking organisations and the tenacity of some of the perpetrators.
In conclusion, the club’s Immediate Past President, Pauline Monk, invited all guests to pledge their support to the Purple Teardrop Campaign, which was met with generous enthusiasm.
YOU CAN HELP the victims of human trafficking through Soroptimist International of Poole’s Purple Teardrop Campaign by:
- Committing to display and sell a box of 100 Teardrop pin badges. All proceeds will help to identify, find and support human trafficking victims
- Displaying our posters
- Fund-matching our pin badge sales
- Giving financial support for the campaign start-up costs.
If you’re able to help, please e-mail enquiries@sipoole.org.uk
Here are some facts about human trafficking:
According to Article 3, paragraph (a) of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children (the Palermo Protocol) which supplements the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime:
“Trafficking in persons” shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.”
What is trafficking?
A $32 billion annual industry, trafficking is a type of slavery that involves the transport or trade of people for the purpose of work. According to the UN, about 2.5 million people around the world are ensnared in the web of human trafficking at any given time.
Trafficking impacts people of all backgrounds, and people are trafficked for a variety of purposes. Men are often trafficked into hard labour jobs, while children are trafficked into labour positions in textile, agricultural and fishing industries. Women and girls are typically trafficked into the commercial sex industry ie prostitution or other forms of sexual exploitation.
Not all slaves are trafficked, but all trafficking victims are victims of slavery. Trafficking is a particularly cruel type of slavery because it removes the victim from all that is familiar to her, rendering her completely isolated and alone, often unable to speak the language of her captors or fellow victims.
What is sex slavery/trafficking?
Sex trafficking or slavery is the exploitation of women and children, within national or across international borders, for the purposes of forced sex work. Commercial sexual exploitation includes pornography, prostitution and sex trafficking of women and girls, and is characterized by the exploitation of a human being in exchange for goods or money. Each year, an estimated 800,000 women and children are trafficked across international borders-though additional numbers of women and girls are trafficked within countries.
Some sex trafficking is highly visible, such as street prostitution. But many trafficking victims remain unseen, operating out of unmarked brothels in unsuspecting-and sometimes suburban-neighbourhoods. Sex traffickers may also operate out of a variety of public and private locations, such as massage parlours, spas and strip clubs. Adult women make up the largest group of sex trafficking victims, followed by girl children, although a small percentage of men and boys are trafficked into the sex industry as well.
Where do trafficked people come from?
Trafficking migration patterns tend to flow from East to West, but women may be trafficked from any country to another country at any given time and trafficking victims exist everywhere. Many of the poorest and most unstable countries have the highest incidences of trafficking, and extreme poverty is a common bond among trafficking victims. Where economic alternatives do not exist, women and girls are more vulnerable to being tricked and coerced into sexual servitude. Increased unemployment and the loss of job security have undermined women’s incomes and economic position. A stalled gender wage gap, as well as an increase in women’s part-time and informal sector work, push women into poorly-paid jobs and long-term and hidden unemployment, which leaves women vulnerable to traffickers.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Thailand, China, Nigeria, Albania, Bulgaria, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine are among the countries that are the greatest sources of trafficked persons. The UNODC cites Thailand, Japan, Israel, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and the United States as common destination countries of trafficked women and girls.
Who trafficks women and girls?
Organised crime is largely responsible for the spread of international human trafficking. Sex trafficking-along with its correlative elements, kidnapping, rape, prostitution and physical abuse-is illegal in nearly every country in the world. However, widespread corruption and greed make it possible for sex trafficking to quickly and easily proliferate. Though national and international institutions may attempt to regulate and enforce anti-trafficking legislation, local governments and police forces may in fact be participating in sex trafficking rings.
Why do traffickers traffic? Because sex trafficking can be extremely lucrative, especially in areas where opportunities for education and legitimate employment may be limited. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the greatest numbers of traffickers are from Asia, followed by Central and South-Eastern Europe, and Western Europe. Crime groups involved in the sex trafficking of women and girls are also often involved in the transnational trafficking of drugs and firearms, and frequently use violence as a means of carrying out their activities.
One overriding factor in the proliferation of trafficking is the fundamental belief that the lives of women and girls are expendable. In societies where women and girls are undervalued or not valued at all, women are at greater risk of being abused, trafficked, and coerced into sex slavery. If women experienced improved economic and social status, trafficking would in large part be eradicated.
How are women trafficked?
Women and girls are ensnared in sex trafficking in a variety of ways. Some are lured with offers of legitimate and legal work as shop assistants or waitresses. Others are promised marriage, educational opportunities and a better life. Still others are sold into trafficking by boyfriends, friends, neighbours or even parents.
Trafficking victims often pass among multiple traffickers, moving further and further from their home countries. Women often travel through multiple countries before ending at their final destination. For example, a woman from the Ukraine may be sold to a trafficker in Turkey, who then passes her on to a trafficker in Thailand. Along the way she becomes confused and disoriented.
Typically, once in the custody of traffickers, a victim’s passport and official papers are confiscated and held. Victims are told they are in the destination country illegally, which increases victims’ dependence on their traffickers. Victims are often kept in captivity and also trapped into debt bondage, whereby they are obliged to pay back large recruitment and transportation fees before being released from their traffickers. Many victims report being charged additional fines or fees while under bondage, requiring them to work longer to pay off their debts.
Trafficking victims experience various stages of degradation and physical and psychological torture. Victims are often deprived of food and sleep, are unable to move about freely, and are physically tortured. In order to keep women captive, victims are told their families and their children will be harmed or murdered if they (the women) try to escape or tell anyone about their situation. Because victims rarely understand the culture and language of the country into which they have been trafficked, they experience another layer of psychological stress and frustration.
Often, before servicing clients, women are forcibly raped by the traffickers themselves, in order to initiate the cycle of abuse and degradation. Some women are drugged in order to prevent them from escaping. Once “broken in,” sex trafficked victims can service up to 30 men a day, and are vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases, HIV infection and unwanted pregnancy.
Who purchases trafficked women and girls?
Many believe that sex trafficking is something that occurs “somewhere else.” However, many of the biggest trafficking consumers are developed nations, and men from all sectors of society support the trafficking industry. There is no one profile that encapsulates the “typical” client. Rather, men who purchase trafficked women are both rich and poor, Eastern and Western. Many are married and have children, and in some cases, men have sex with trafficked girls in lieu of abusing their own young children.
One reason for the proliferation of sex trafficking is because in many parts of the world there is little to no perceived stigma to purchasing sexual favours for money, and prostitution is viewed as a victimless crime. Because women are culturally and socially devalued in so many societies, there is little conflict with the purchasing of women and girls for sexual services. Further, few realize the explicit connection between the commercial sex trade, and the trafficking of women and girls and the illegal slave trade. In Western society in particular, there is a commonly held perception that women choose to enter into the commercial sex trade. However, for the majority of women in the sex trade, and specifically in the case of trafficked women and girls who are coerced or forced into servitude, this is simply not the case.
In addition, sex tourism-that is, the practice of travelling or vacationing for the purpose of having sex-is a billion dollar industry that further encourages the sexual exploitation of women and girls. Many sex tours explicitly feature young girls. The tours are marketed specifically to paedophiles who prey on young children, and men who believe that having sex with virgins or young girls will cure sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Often, these men spread HIV and other STDs to their young victims, creating localized disease epidemics.
What is the impact of sex trafficking?
Trafficking has a harrowing effect on the mental, emotional and physical wellbeing of the women and girls ensnared in its web. Beyond the physical abuse, trafficked women suffer extreme emotional stress, including shame, grief, fear, distrust and suicidal thoughts. Victims often experience post-traumatic stress disorder, and with that, acute anxiety, depression and insomnia. Many victims turn to drugs and alcohol to numb the pain.
Sex trafficking promotes societal breakdown by removing women and girls from their families and communities. Trafficking fuels organised crime groups that usually participate in many other illegal activities, including drug and weapons trafficking and money laundering. It negatively impacts local and national labour markets, due to the loss of human resources. Sex trafficking burdens public health systems. and trafficking erodes government authority, encourages widespread corruption, and threatens the security of vulnerable populations.
2010 Calendar of Events and Meetings
Saturday, 7 August 2010
Fund-Raising Coffee Morning
To be held at a member’s home to raise monies for SOS Mamelodi Village, Pretoria, home to over 150 children. Coffees, raffle and sales table. For more information, e-mail enquiries@sipoole.org.uk
……….
Thursday, 9 September 2010
Social Evening
Members only event. Tapas night at South Deep Cafe, Turks Lane. 6.30 for 7pm. £9.50
……….
Monday, 13 September 2010
Club Evening
Salterns Harbourside Hotel
Salterns Way
Lilliput
Poole BH14 8JR
Optional dining/social time at 6.15pm. Meeting starts 7.30pm
Programme action meeting with updates from the club’s 4 project areas:
- Lobbying on issues relating to human trafficking
- Dorset SARC (Sexual Assault Referral Centre)
- Sweatshops
- Grants for Girls, grants to assist girls and young women in Poole to undertake voluntary work meeting at least one of Soroptimist International’s programme action objectives
……….
Sunday, 19 September 2010
Dorset Wildlife Trust Beach Clean
Beach clean at Worbarrow - all welcome to join the Poole Soroptimists party helping to clean up the beach at this spectacular location on the Dorset coast
……….
Monday, 11 October 2010
Club Evening
Salterns Harbourside Hotel
Salterns Way
Lilliput
Poole BH14 8JR
Short business meeting followed by dinner celebrating the club’s 58th charter anniversary
Dolphin Boat
SI Poole is represented on the Friends of Dolphin committee by one of its long-standing members. Friends of Dolphin provides Poole Harbour trips on especially adapted vessels to disabled visitors and, in 2009, carried over 2,000 passengers.
Friends of Dolphin have a full programme of fund-raising which includes an annual concert by the Royal Marine Association Concert Band. This year’s concert is on Sunday, 5 September at 3pm at the Lighthouse, Poole.
Housing Association
Soroptimist (Poole) Housing Association owns and manages two houses in Poole for active, elderly residents.
The management committee comprises current and previous Poole Soroptimist members.
In April 2008, residents, committee members and guests celebrated the completion of the refurbishment of the top floor of Phyllis Feistner House, Parkstone.
International Goodwill and Understanding
Promote peaceful conflict resolution, inter-cultural and inter-racial tolerance and condemn genocide and terrorism.
Project Sierra
SI Poole is committed to supporting Soroptimist International’s global quadrennial project, Project Sierra. Project Sierra is a 4 year partnership between Soroptimist International and Hope & Homes for Children which aims to raise more than £1m to help transform the lives of some of the world’s most deprived women and children, in Sierra Leone.
Soroptimist International of Poole has a full programme of fund-raising in 2010/11 and the club is committed to providing a further donation, in addition to that already made, to Project Sierra in the coming year.
Soroptimist International Poole’s Save the Children representative is holding a fund raising evening on 8 November 2010. All proceeds to Save the Children.
We support Landmine Action, as witnessed by our Walk without Legs event in 2007.
SI Poole has friendship links with SI Brussels Iris, SI Hagen, SI Kandy and SI Newtownards.
Environment
Mitigate the effects of climate change and integrate sustainability into personal choices and government policies and programmes.
Dorset Wildlife Trust, Beach Cleans
Club members regularly participate in Dorset Wildlife Trust’s beach cleans at Worbarrow Bay and Kimmeridge on the beautiful Dorset Jurassic Coast. The Dorset coastline requires regular clearance from marine litter including netting and plastics which can be very harmful to wildlife.
Collectors Table
At every main club meeting, members bring re-cycling items for re-use including plastic bottle tops, used stamps, unwanted foreign coins, pens and pencils, old greetings cards, redundant mobile phones, used computer cartridges, second-hand spectacles and raffle ticket strips.
Agenda 21
The club has representation on Poole’s Agenda 21.
Litter Picking
SI Poole club members regularly litter pick in the Broadstone area of Poole.
Education
Ensure equal access to education and training for women and girls throughout their lifespan.
Out of Afrika
SI Poole provides financial support for a female student in Kenya to enable her to complete her secondary school education. The support is given via Poole-based charity, Out of Afrika, run by a former Soroptimist.
New Funding Scheme
During 2010, we are establishing a fund to help others undertake projects supporting SI objectives.
Health
Support programmes and policies that eliminate HIV/AIDS, maleria, tuberculosis and other major diseases.
Races for Life
Every year, members of SI Poole take part in the Race for Life in Poole and Bournemouth to raise funds for Cancer Research UK. 2010 has been no exception and 4 members are participating in the Poole Race on Sunday, 27 June.
Water Aid and Aquabox
SI Poole supports Water Aid and each year the club provides a fully equipped Aquabox, each member providing at least one item. In May 2010, one member and her son are taking part in the WaterAid sponsored walk from Shell Bay to Swanage, raising in excess of £200 sponsorship.
Chest Help
SI Poole makes regular donations to Chest Help, a Bournemouth-based charity that supports local people with TB.
Human Rights and the Status of Women
End human trafficking and all forms of violence against women and girls.
Poole Refuge
Poole Soroptimists support Poole Refuge through the donation of toiletries, cleaning materials and quality household items.
Human Trafficking
Human trafficking remains at the core of SI Poole’s project work in 2010 through its flagship Purple Teardrop Campaign which raises public awareness on human trafficking and fund-raises to support human trafficking victims, particularly those who are sexually exploited.
Medaille Trust
Soroptimist International of Poole supports the annual Lions Poole Swimarathon. To-date, the club has donated £9,000 to the Medaille Trust from Swimarathon proceeds. The Medaille Trust provides safe house accommodation and support for trafficking victims. The next Lions Poole Swimarathon is in February 2011.
Blue Blindfold
SI Poole members have presented £2,000 to Blue Blindfold on behalf of the Purple Teardrop Campaign for use in supporting victims for whom no other funding is available.
Human Trafficking, our Purple Teardrop Campaign - the Background Story
Over the past few years, SI Poole has donated £9,000 to the Medaille Trust, specifically to support its Hampshire safe-house for human trafficking victims. The funds have come principally from the Lions Poole Swimarathon which SI Poole helps to organise and run.
From the discussion at the club’s programme action review in early 2008, it was very clear that the membership wished to not only fund-raise for victim support but also raise public awareness of human trafficking and, if possible, take further, more direct action.
Detective Chief Inspector Steve Bartlett from Dorset Police came to speak to the club about Pentameter 2 in Dorset. DCI Bartlett’s information about human trafficking in Dorset helped the club to inform itself and gave the membership the opportunity to ask Dorset Police how the club could best provide practical local assistance to help combat trafficking in Dorset.
There appear to be specific trafficking hotspots in both Bournemouth and Weymouth. Additionally, the latter is the designated venue for sailing events at the 2012 Olympics and the club had already identified that this might well be a catalyst for an increase in trafficking problems.
More detailed discussion took place at subsequent club programme action meetings and the idea of a 3 strand project emerged. The 3 proposed strands were:
• A purple ribbon campaign, following on from the purple ribbon campaign by European and latterly Yorkshire Soroptimists
• A sticker campaign aimed at men, with a confidential phone number to call to report any concerns or suspicions regarding trafficked prostitutes
• An advertising campaign in newspaper escort columns, again aimed at men and providing a confidential phone number. This project strand has since been dropped - the Newsquest Group no longer publishes an escort column
Members volunteered to work in 3 groups to take each strand forward:
• The group working on the ribbon campaign researched on the web for suppliers and, having identified all the major UK charity badge organisations, contacted them for samples. The initial thought was to purchase purple enamel pin-badges and quotes were requested and obtained.
Group members contributed draft artwork and text for the badge boxes and backing cards. Importantly, the draft design comprised 3 half-faces, one European, one Asian and one Afro-Caribbean, each with a small purple tear which one of our members decided to enlarge to create more impact, by chance in a different shade of purple.
The supplier with the keenest quote was selected and the draft artwork and text sent to them. Their design team was very helpful and made 2 key suggestions. Firstly, that the boxes and pin-badge backing cards would look more professional and make a stronger visual statement if the half-faces were photographs rather than sketches. And secondly, that the campaign would be more distinctive and hopefully more successful if the badges were a 2 tone purple teardrop rather than a purple ribbon.
Using her personal network, another member was able to obtain appropriate photographs, although it was a long process to select those that we felt made the correct impact. The photographs were subsequently put into a variety of designs and again, after a lengthy process, the final design for the pin-badge backing card for presentation to the club was agreed.
In the meantime, pin-badge backing card text was also worked up to a final draft.
At the club’s July programme action meeting, the designs and text were put to the whole membership and agreed. Funding was also confirmed and the club placed an order for 5,000 teardrop badges, each being pinned to a backing card and individually wrapped, plus 50 boxes.
A firm commitment had been made by 24 local organisations to each display and sell a box of 100 teardrop pin-badges even before they were delivered.
The suggested donation for each badge is £1. The proceeds from pin-badge sales are to go to support for safe houses for trafficking victims and to fund the other strands of the project.
It had already been noted that Yorkshire clubs had run a successful sticker campaign. Stickers had been placed in men’s toilets to raise awareness that some prostitutes are trafficking victims. The Yorkshire clubs were very helpful in providing samples of their artwork.
However, the members working on this part of the project preferred to work on new wording. Our Assistant Programme Action Officer obtained samples and prices of various types of stickers.
A local councillor, Daniel Martin, had attended the initial meeting where DCI Bartlett had spoken about Pentameter 2. Councillor Martin committed to help our campaign and was asked if Poole Borough Council would allow the stickers to be placed in the borough’s public men’s toilets. Unfortunately, the reply from the manager responsible for Poole’s public toilets was negative. There was concern that this campaign would set a precedent and that other organisations would demand that their stickers also be placed in the borough’s toilets. Additionally, the manager was worried that the stickers would cause paintwork damage when they were eventually removed.
The group therefore decided that A4 posters would be considered more acceptable and, at the club’s July programme action meeting, the text for the posters was agreed plus it was agreed that the same 3 half-faces would be featured. The posters include a Crimestoppers phone number to report suspected trafficking victims.
5,000 posters were ordered. The group drew up lists of organisations and venues to be approached and considered the idea of a high profile distribution across the borough over one or two days.
We would like to formally thank SI Southampton for introducing us to the Medaille Trust, SI Bournemouth for confirming that we may contact businesses within their Bournemouth ‘patch’ and SISE PAC Officer for their support to date.
It was felt that the Purple Teardrop Campaign would have a greater chance of success if a high profile launch was held.
A committee was set-up and arrangements rapidly put in hand for the launch on 22 September at Upton House drawing room. The committee drew up a programme, as follows:
7pm, doors open. Guests completed a trafficking awareness questionnaire, and perused display material.
7.30pm. Following our President’s formal welcome, there were speakers from the Medaille Trust, CHASTE and Operation Pentameter 2. Immediate Past President Pauline advised guests how they and their organisations could participate in the Purple Teardrop Campaign, and a question and answer session followed.
9.30pm. Evening closed.
A comprehensive invitation list was drawn up to include locally based companies, local authorities, public agencies and like-minded organisations.
The event committee prepared a leaflet/programme and a pledge form, plus adapted an existing trafficking awareness questionnaire.
Human Trafficking, our Purple Teardrop Campaign - 2009
Our Purple Teardrop Campaign gathered momentum following the September launch. Not only did Louis de Bernieres agree to be the Campaign’s patron but we have formed a partnership with the Blue Blindfold Campaign, the government’s initiative against human trafficking.
We are rolling the campaign out and encouraging other Soroptimist clubs to raise awareness of human trafficking within their local communities. The materials needed to do so can be ordered from us. See www.purpleteardrop.org.uk
Locally, we have held awareness-raising events at Poole Stadium on International Women’s Day, at Poole’s Dolphin Shopping Centre and at Bournemouth University to mark Not For Sale Sunday. We had a stand at the Dorset WI Conference and have spoken at front line worker seminars and with local voluntary groups such as Rotarians.
Economic and Social Development
Eliminate poverty and gender discrimination through ensuring women’s full social and economic rights.
Project SIerra
SI Poole is committed to supporting Soroptimist International’s global quadrennial project, Project Sierra. Project SIerra is a 4 year partnership between Soroptimist International and Hope & Homes for Children which aims to raise more than £1m to help transform the lives of some of the world’s most deprived women and children, in Sierra Leone.
Soroptimist International of Poole has a comprehensive programme of fund-raising in 2010/11 and the club is committed to providing a further donation, in addition to those already made, to Project SIerra in the coming year.
Mayor of Poole’s Christmas Parcels Fund
SI Poole is represented on the Mayor of Poole’s Christmas Parcels Fund and members contribute by helping with fund-raising and distributing parcels to selected Poole residents at Christmas.
Save the Children
Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland and Save the Children UK are partnership organisations. SI Poole is represented on Save the Children. At the club meeting on 8 November 2010, Save the Children goods will be available to support Save the Children’s work. Last year, members clubbed together to purchase a yak in lieu of giving one another Christmas cards.
Sweatshops
The club is currently running a project on sweatshops, as highlighted at the SIGBI conference in Cardiff in October 2009.
Other
On a personal level, members support Fairtrade, give donations and sign petitions.
Programme Action
The members of Soroptimist International of Poole are working on a comprehensive programme of AWARENESS, ADVOCACY AND ACTION in 2010/11 across the organisation’s current objectives.
We achieve our programme action through:
- Work on tightly focussed projects, currently:
- Lobbying on human trafficking issues
- Dorset SARC
- Establishment of a new fund to help others undertake project work supporting SI objectives
- Sweatshops, part of a wider Soroptimist initiative
- A comprehensive schedule of events including the 2010 Race for Life and Dorset Wildlife Trust beach cleans
- Three club meetings each year devoted to our programme action work - see 2010 Calendar of Events - when members can share their progress on their projects
Contact Us
For more information on our work and events, and details of how to join SI Poole, please email us at enquiries@sipoole.org.uk
How to Join
‘By joining Soroptimists, you become part of an international, national and local collective that champions social justice. You gain a voice that helps influence positive change. You gain a purpose that works towards helping those who feel hopeless and helpless to achieve a position of empowerment and liberation.
Soroptimist International Poole offers our members Friendship, Fun and Purpose. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you wish to explore becoming a member.’
Alex Wiggins, Membership Officer
May 2010
enquiries@sipoole.org.uk
Presidents’ Message
A warm welcome to the web pages of Soroptimist International (SI) Poole. Chartered in 1952, our club has been active in the community of Poole for the last 58 years. It has a wide catchment area and members come from as far afield as Dorchester and Wimborne as well as from Poole itself.
We have a varied calendar of events, ranging from participation in the Race for Life and Dorset Wildlife Trust beach cleans to fund-raising, beginning with afternoon teas at Wimborne St Giles village hall on Sunday, 23 May.
This year, the club has a new approach to its project work and a different meeting schedule and format so as to meet the needs of its busy membership.
Members are looking forward to working on a fresh range of projects:
- Lobbying against human trafficking, part of the club’s flagship Purple Teardrop Campaign against human trafficking
- Establishing a new bursary to help others achieve projects related to SI objectives
- Campaigning against sweatshops, part of a wider Soroptimist International initiative
- Working on Dorset SARC (Sexual Assault Referral Centre)
Members meet on the 2nd Monday of each month at the Salterns Hotel, Poole for project work or for speakers on SI related issues. Prior to each meeting, there is informal social/dining time.
This year, the club has a joint presidency - Kate Dukes (pictured here) and Liz Rodgers. During a year which sees the club undergo fundamental change, Kate and Liz’s theme is to be passionate about Soroptimism, to enjoy contributing to SI Poole and to inspire others through our club’s achievements.
Whilst the focus of SI Poole is on projects, we are also fund-raising for our new volunteers grant, Soroptimist International’s Diamond Grant Fund, Project SIerra and Out of Afrika as well as a number of Poole based charities.
We will continue to raise awareness of the plight of victims of human trafficking through our Purple Teardrop Campaign, selling teardrop pin-badges and working in partnership with other organisations with complementary objectives. Our Purple Teardrop Campaign patron, Louis de Bernieres, helps us to raise the profile of our project and achieve our objectives.
To find out more about Soroptimist International Poole, keep reading and if you are interested in becoming a member or would like to support one or more of our events, please contact us as enquiries@sipoole.org.uk
Presidents Kate Dukes and Liz Rodgers
SI Poole, April 2010
Club Officers
Kate Dukes and Liz Rodgers - Joint Presidents
Janice Gosby- Immediate Past President
Carol Thomas - President Elect
Pauline Monk - Programme Action Officer
Janice Gosby - Hon Secretary
Carol Thomas - Hon Treasurer
Penny Bartlett and Janice Gosby - Regional Representatives
Alexandra Wiggins - Membership Officer
Jacqueline de Trafford - Executive Committee Member