b'Photo: With the passing of the drumsticks to the wonderful troupe Hands Percussion, the audience were thrilled with a high energy performance, and the 21st Soroptimist International Convention was officially declared open!Following tea and coffee, a rousing welcome full of joy andHer travels over three decades included journeys to the City love was given by Dato Anusha Santhirasthipam, President ofof Joy where she met with survivors of rape, and Peshawar, the host Federation, Soroptimist International of South WestPakistan, suffering tragically from suicide bombings. Christina Pacific, invited SI Immediate Past President Yvonne Simpsonlooks behind the bombs to see warfare through the eyes of a to the stage. Yvonne looked back over the many wonderfulwoman, and she is passionate about combatting the horrific accomplishments throughout her biennium, 2015-2017. use of rape in war; as weapon of mass destruction.She spoke of the much loved and supported SI Presidents Ap- She spoke of women abducted with the light gone from their pealEducate to Lead: Nepal 2015-2017, which developedeyes; real life stories, lived experiences, of women forced to from her own experiences in 2012, when an earthquake struckmarry fighters, victimised over and over again. Author of eight 100 km west of her home town Christchurch, New Zealand.books including The Africa House and I Am Malala, Christina Yvonne shared the many inspiring and ongoing Appeal pro- shared her experience of the women behind the lines, of the jectsmore than 20, which focused on educating, empower- true spoils of war -dark and traumatic scenes, interjected with ing, and enabling women and girls in disaster torn Nepal. hope and a powerful representation of the strength, resilience and survival of the many women caught up in conflict.Special Guest Keynote SpeakerKeynote Speaker, Christina Lamb OBE, Author and Chief Foreign Correspondent of the Sunday Times, London, UK, was invited to take the floor by facilitator, Dato Anusha Santhirasthipam, President of SISWP.Christina Lamb spoke of the inspirational people she has met on her travels to dark and frightening places throughout her career as a war correspondent, traditionally a male dominat-ed arena. Telling her own storyher rise to the position of a foreign correspondentChristina spoke of the challenges she faced as a woman in the industry. Photo: Keynote Speaker Christina Lamb OBEwww.soroptimistinternational.org'