International Day of Education

Today, according to UNESCO, some 244 million children and youth are out of school. 771 million adults are illiterate, and the right to education is being violated.

It is now widely acknowledged that as well as benefitting women and girls as individuals, educating women and girls produces better health outcomes, fuels economic growth, and ensures stable and peaceful societies. 

In recognition of the 2023 International Day of Education, 24 January, Soroptimist International President, Maureen Maguire, joins the the five Federation Presidents, to explore and present the valuable programmes and projects taking place across the world, dedicated to transforming lives through Education.

This year is the fifth International Day of Education and the theme is “to invest in people, prioritize education”, calling for Education to be prioritised to accelerate progress towards all the Sustainable Development Goals.

UNESCO is dedicating this year’s International Day to girls and women in Afghanistan who have been deprived of their right to education. It is calling for the immediate lifting of the ban restricting their access to education. UNESCO

Opening Doors to a Bright Future

Opening Doors to a Bright Future’, is the Soroptimist International (SI) President’s Appeal, 2021-2023, with the specific aim of delivering tangible benefits to some of the world’s most marginalised women, girls, and their communities through Education. The Appeal is currently leading on projects in Cambodia (SISEAP); Uganda (SIAF); Georgia (SIE); with recent projects commenced in Trinidad and Tobago, St Vincent & the Grenadines, and Grenada (SIGBI), at beginning of January this year. The Appeal plans to work with women and girls through projects in each of the five Soroptimist International Federations.

📢📢 Register HERE for the SI International Day of Education Webinar, 24 January, ‘Prioritising Education: Empowering Women and Girls’ showcasing key education projects from the SI President’s Appeal and each of our Federations.

Explore the Projects of the International Appeal HERE

SI Federations Educating Women & Girls

Soroptimist International, consists of five Federations: Soroptimist International Africa Federation (SIAF), Soroptimist International of the Americas (SIA), Soroptimist International of Europe (SIE), Soroptimist International of Great Britain & Ireland (SIGBI), and Soroptimist International of the South East Asia Pacific (SISEAP). Here they showcase some of the life-changing programmes and projects taking place around the world, dedicated to transforming the lives of women and girls, through Education.

Explore the Projects below

SIAF Education Day

‘Would you build a classroom for us, please' In the Moroccan countryside, girls leave school at the age of eleven due to the lack of secondary schools in their neighbourhoods. At the same time, boys are commonly sent to family or friends in the city, allowed to ride to the

SIA Education Day

Soroptimist International of the Americas (SIA) is a global volunteer organisation that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. SIA operate in many countries and territories throughout North America, South America, and the Pacific Rim. Turning 100 years old in

SIE Education Day

Soroptimist International of Europe (SIE) has a focus of five programme areas to improve the lives of women and girls. On a yearly basis more than 30,000 members in SIE carry out around 4,000 projects in: Women’s Empowerment, Elimination of Violence Against Women, Health and Food Security, Sustainability, and the

SISEAP Education Day

Malaysia – Building Bridges Beyond Borders - 5 refugee schools Soroptimist International Educates, Empowers and Enables females to realise true potential. It is widely demonstrated that education is the key for escaping poverty, for a girl, woman, family, community and a country. Education is the pathway for empowerment and choice

SIGBI Education Day

Science Technology Engineering and Maths Project – SI Leeds SI Leeds partnered with a local schools trust to deliver a Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM), Immersion Day for both primary and high school pupils. As well as giving them all an opportunity to talk to STEM professionals in small

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