Older SI projects

Previous Quadrennial Projects: 

1987 - 1991 The Peru Project:

The Peru Project, in co-operation with UNICEF, was an integrated development programme for women through provision of improved social services, training in self-help techniques and basic education in improved health and nutrition. This programme took place in 14 village areas in Cajamarca Province, Peru. The Project offered the opportunity for Soroptimists to be closely involved in women's development and women's empowerment. There are four Soroptimist Clubs in Peru and their members became involved at field level.

1983 - 1987 The Senegal Project:

The Senegal Project, in co-operation with UNICEF, was aimed at providing clean water in six regions in Senegal, contributing not only to the improved health of children and mothers, but also generating economic and educational activities. Local Senegalese Soroptimists acted as liaisons with the local community by encouraging participation in the planning, construction and maintenance of the Project as well as educating the community, in particular the women and children, in the basic principles of health, sanitation and nutrition, management and marketing seminars with respect to income-generating activities.

1979 - 1983 The Fiji Project

The Fiji Project - supported the South Pacific Community Education Training Centre in Suva, Fiji. The Centre provided training for young women to enable them to help their own communities. They acquired skills which they could pass on to other women in their villages and islands and courses included the study of diet and nutrition and the growing of vegetables to augment the local diet. Emphasis was placed on leadership, community organisation, group dynamics, income-raising activities, management, programme planning and individual confidence building.

1979 - 1983 The Caribbean Project

The Caribbean Project, in co-operation with UNICEF, was aimed at helping to meet the physical, social, emotional and intellectual needs of pre-school children in Barbados. The money raised established new day-care centres and improved existing centres by training of the staff and provision of educational and play equipment.

1975 - 1979 The Maldives Project:

This Project, in co-operation with UNICEF, provided 14 medical boats to carry health workers, medical drugs, supplies and equipment to the people in the remote Maldives atoll islands in the Indian Ocean. Over 20 paramedics were also trained.

Previous December 10th Appeals:

HIV/AIDS Continuum of Care, Ukraine, 2002

This project was in partnership with Médecins Sans Frontiéres (MSF). The Appeal aimed to stop the transmission of HIV/AIDS from mothers to babies in the Ukraine. The project focussed on care and support for people living with HIV, as well as prevention among the general population.

Building Peace Among Children, 2001

In partnership with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), Soroptimists supported the training of young women and girls in Africa as 'Peace Ambassadors'. Once trained they will go back to their villages and run seminars of their own.

Soroptimists Stop Traffic, 1999

Donations to this Appeal were distributed to UNIFEM and MIRAMED to help combat human trafficking of women and girls.

From Labour to Learning, India, 1997

This project brought learning and education to Indian children in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, provinces where female literacy was less than 50% and child labour is widespread. Many parents did not see the value in educating their children and thus did not send children to school. Through a partnership with UNICEF's Joyful Learning scheme, Soroptimists helped to indentify primary age children including working children and enrolled them in schools. Joyful Learning made learning more relevant, efficient, and enjoyable, equipped children with an education that helped to alleviate and reduce poverty.

Project Safe Journey, Angola, 1996

This project built upon previous Soroptimist work and focussed on land mines. Soroptimist support helped to clear a safe passage for thousands of refugees returning to Angola from Zaire and Zambia. The aim was to determine the route and clear usable crop land. The need was urgent with that UN High Commissioner for Refugees planning to return 400,000 known refugees to their homeland. The refugees, 75% of whom were women and children, were mainly unaware of the dangers posed by mines that maim and kill.

Land Mine Education, Laos, 1995

Soroptimists supported a scheme run by The Mines Advisory Group, a non-profit organisation, saying "Over the last 25 years one million people have been killed or injured by these instruments of death". The funds raised helped train selected people to a level of high expertise in surveying, marking, and clearing land mines in Laos. Community awareness programmes and special sessions for mothers to learn how to teach their children the dangers of land mines were also held.

Reunion of displaced families in former Yugoslavia, 1994

Many women and children were forced to leave their homes and villages in former Yugoslavia, but with the support of Soroptimist they were able to contact their families. Working with the International Committee of the Red Cross, Soroptimists gave the ICRC the chance to continue their reunification of hundreds of thousands of victims. Women in former Yugoslavia were able to get in touch with their families to learn if their husband, father, or children were still alive.

Aid for Somali refugee women sheltering in Kenya, 1993

The need for help was very urgent as these Somali women were not only living in extreme poverty far from home, but many were the victims of violence. They urgently needed protection against being robbed, raped, and even killed as they went about their daily tasks in the refugee camps in North East Kenya. Rape often meant that the women needed immediate counselling as they are often rejected in the community as ‘tarnished' women. Soroptimist International's support with help from other NGOs was used by the UN High Commissioner for Refugee to provide counselling, therapy by trained personnel and medical care as well as legal assistance. Protection was also provided by having policewomen stationed in the camps as a deterrent.

Aquaculture training for the women of Orrisa, India, 1992

Soroptimist International worked with UNFIEM to change the lives of women in Orrisa. Approximately 300 were taught modern fish culture. Orrisa, in the Indian coastal state of Oriya, is home to 31.5 million people, 44.7% of whom lived below the poverty line. While there had been abundant salt and fresh water fish it had been a male dominated industry. No women were involved, except perhaps to mend nets. With the Women in Fisheries Project inaugurated at state level in 1992 by the Indian Government, UNIFEM with Soroptimist support was able to train women who were mainly heads of families. Women who were willing to learn and to teach others. With credit facilities and loans available, they have become economically independent.

Relief for People living with HIV, Uganda, 1991

At the time, between 1.5 and 2 million Ugandan people were living with HIV. Soroptimist supported women suffering from AIDS. These women were in many cases the sole support for their children, their partner having died from AIDS. Soroptimist's suppose was used to fund a project in Aber in the northern district of Apach in conjunction with the Uganda AIDS Commission. Established in a hospital, the project provides counselling services and information to raise the level of HIV/AIDS awareness at grassroots level. It also helps women living with HIV know that when they die, their children are better able to care for themselves.

1990: UNIFEM's project in Lesotho to Assist Rural Women by giving training in appropriate technology to enable them to have a better family life.

1989: Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) to Rishilipi Development Project in Bangladesh to assist disadvantaged women in income generating.

1988: UNIFEM's constructive project designed to Help the Women of Tokelau, a non-self governing territory of three small atolls in Western Samoa in the South Pacific.

1987: the Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children in Africa. Funds were channeled through the Nigerian National Committee and Dr. Irene Thomas, a Soroptimist in Lagos.

1986: UNESCO's (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) Co-Action project in Rio Salado, Dominican Republic -- a pilot project for shantytowns to tie in with the United Nations Year of Shelter for the Homeless.

1985: the Swedish Sudanese Women's Association project in Kordofan, Sudan, to equip maternity units in hospitals.

1984: the UNIFEM Women's Apple Market Project in Ghana and FAO's (World Food Programme) Non-Food Items Project in Lesotho and Mauritania.

1983: Project 5-O projects in: Bacolod City, Philippines; Zimbabwe; Thailand; Mexico; and donated through UNESCO Co-Action to aid: Khmer Refugee Women.

1982: Project on the island of Pulau Bidong, Malaysia, to help refugee women and children. Pulau Bidong is a first asylum centre run in co-operation with UNHCR and provides for housing, care and maintenance including medical and social services for refugees awaiting re-settlement.