Soroptimist Clubs all over the world are celebrating the centenary of Soroptimist International.
The first Soroptimist club was chartered on October 3, 1921, in Oakville, California. Soroptimist International is a global volunteer women’s movement that now encompasses a network of five federations with a membership of around 72,000 club members in 121 countries.
The organisation works closely with the United Nations to advocate and advocate for the needs of women and girls. The clubs’ Programme Action projects aligned with the UN’s seventeen Sustainable Development Goals. These projects are reported to the individual club’s federation, which in turn reports to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
Soroptimist International Esperance began the celebration of the Centenary Year by hosting a Virtual Friendship Day for all six T&T clubs and Caribbean guests entitled The Roaring Twenties—Let’s have a Roaring Good Time. Soroptimists of T&T showcased their achievements and were encouraged to dress in period attire. Highlights were the 1920’s Trivia and ‘Soroptimists Got Talent.
SI Esperance took a light-hearted look at the Roaring 20s in their video Saturday Night at the Local Speakeasy which starred their club members.
It had a Facebook reach of over 13K and can be viewed on their YouTube Channel, Soroptimist International Esperance. Their many informative videos can be viewed there.
The Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI) Federation asked members to “Plant Trees for a Brilliant Future” to celebrate the centenary of the organisation. SI Esperance launched its Planting Trees—Hope for the Future project, and challenged itself to plant at least 100 trees in southwest Trinidad, addressing the issues of community beautification, environmental sustainability, food security and climate change.
The club partnered with the Division of Forestry at the Ministry of Agriculture which advised on the selection of trees and the Palmiste Historical Society with which it worked in establishing an Arboretum at the Palmiste National Park. The club acquired food-producing trees for planting and distribution in communities where women and girls were most at risk for experiencing food insecurity. The final number of 375 trees planted or distributed far exceeded SI Esperance’s original goal.
As part of the celebration of the first centenary of Soroptimist International in 2021, some 100 Soroptimists were selected to be commemorated as part of the ‘#WhoIsShe?Campaign’. This campaign celebrated members who had given outstanding service. SI Esperance was proud that Ursula de Castro, their active, 95-year-old member was featured for her commitment to working for the betterment of women and girls in the community.
Soroptimist clubs all over the world have been meeting to light candles and to express their good wishes for Soroptimist International worldwide, their federation, their region and their club. Some members of Soroptimist International Esperance met briefly to celebrate the centenary with their candle lighting ceremony and to pledge to continue their impactful work for the advancement of women and girls in rural south Trinidad.
