Programme News December 2010

Programme News December 2010

Nouvelles du Programme décembre 2010

Nouvelles du Programme décembre 2010

St-Petersburg Neva Club Water Project

St-Petersburg Neva Club Water Project

Sisterhood Tour 2011

Sisterhood Tour 2011

Internationale Peace Day

Internationale Peace Day

Journée Internationale de la Paix

Journée Internationale de la Paix

UN Women

UN Women

8th Europeen Meeting and Friendship Days

8th Europeen Meeting and Friendship Days

Grant of Friendship

Grant of Friendship

Programme News September2010

Programme News September2010

Newsletter du Programme Septembre 2010

Newsletter du Programme Septembre 2010

Hopes and Dreams for Everyone

SI CSW 54 2010_0001.wmv

Do the MDGs influence national development policies?

Do the MDGs influence national development policies?

Peace Marathon

Press article on Peace Marathon

http://www.newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=14247&article=3372&week=17

Click here and read the New Programme Newsletter May 2010

Cliquez ici et lisez la nouvelle lettre d'information du Programme, mai 2010

Project SIerra

Letter VII (english) from Lisbeth Hass, SI/E Project Liaison

Lettre VII (français) de Lisbeth Haas, Chargée de Liaison de Projects SI/E

Study Tour to Moldova

From 17-22 March, 23 participants from Norway, Denmark, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Austria and Switzerland visited the project “Hopes and Dreams for Everyone” which is SI President Hanne Jensbo’s December 10 Appeal.

They travelled across Moldova to Napadova, Soroca, Balti, and Edinet. There they visited boarding schools where the beneficiaries of this project receive life skills education.

SI Norway cooperates with the International Organization of Migration and other local organizations to implement the project. In particular, to identify vulnerable girls and boys. The participants were also part of the inauguration of a well in a kindergarten in Edinet.

Newsletter

Dear Soroptimists,

Another issue of interesting news about our Programme work worldwide. Share this newsletter with your friends and colleagues!

http://www.soroptimisteurope.org/data/files/Programme%20News%20April%202010.pdf

Haiti Petition

Ensuring Haitian Women’s Participation and Leadership in All Stages of National Relief and Reconstruction, see the Petition signed by Soroptimist International of Europe.

Call to Women and Girls

http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5095/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=2433

PEP Waterprojects in 18 countries

Water and Sanitation Projects

There are many water-related diseases and most of them are due to lack of sanitation

Infected person > Pathogen in excreta > Contamination of water source > Consumption of untreated water > Infection of other person

Prevention of water contamination is essential in the fight against infections. Access to clean water and adequate sanitation is a key priority for a better and healthier life.



Completed PEP Projects > here
Ongoing PEP Projects > here

8th European Meeting and Friendship Days 2010

The 8th European Meeting and Friendship Days in Mijas, Spain 15th -17th of October 2010.

The five Spanish Clubs have great pleasure in inviting all our Soroptimist sisters to Spain to participate in the Friendship Days which will be held in Spanish, English and French. We have chosen the theme ‘The Power of Optimism’ in order to infuse everybody with good vibrations and renewed energy!

We have a wonderful line-up of interesting and powerful speakers - and will be appealing to all participants to share their knowledge with each other. We want to stimulate your senses by introducing you to our beautiful country, with its warm climate, tasteful cuisine and extraordinarily friendly people.

Bring your partner and stay for a few extra days – once here, you will find it difficult to leave. Please visit our website www.si-es.org for more information and registration details - and remember, airlines have wonderful deals if you book your flights early!!

We look forward to your company and being able to say BIENVENIDA A ESPAÑA!

webclip: Sylvia Borren / So Much We Can Do / PART 5

Speech delivered by Sylvia Borren at the Soroptimist International of Europe Water Congress '09 in Amsterdam.


Water is Life, Sanitation is Dignity


http://www.soroptimisteurope.org
http://www.soroptimistsgoforwater.nl
webclip by: http://www.buzzmedia.net

Sylvia Borren is co-chair of the Worldconnectors and GCAP (the Global Call to Action against Poverty), chair of the EEN campaign, and Project leader of Quality Educators for All, a project of Education International labor union and Oxfam Novib.

webclip: Kenza Robinson / Water, Women & Empowerment / Part 2

Speech delivered by Kenza Robinson at the 19th SI/E congress in Amsterdam.
Water is Life, Sanitation is Dignity

http://www.soroptimisteurope.org
http://www.soroptimistsgoforwater.nl
webclip by: http://www.buzzmedia.net

UNESCO-IHE and Women for Water Partnership form alliance

UNESCO-IHE and Women for Water Partnership
form alliance

UNESCO-IHE and the Women for Water Partnership (WfWP) have agreed to jointly enhance women's participation in achieving sustainable

With the launch of this strategic partnership, UNESCO-IHE and the WfWP will work on UNESCO-IHE’s Waters & Society Programme, on the World Water Development Report of the United Nations and on the follow-up of the outcomes of World Water Forum 5.

Co-convenors

WfWP and UNESCO-IHE were co-convenors of Topic 6.1 'Education and Capacity Development Strategies' at the World Water Forum, at which their creative approach in highlighting the issues drew many accolades. The strategic partnership is intended to broaden the joint efforts towards inclusion of gender issues and women's empowerment in the water and sanitation sectors.

Scholarship

Besides this, UNESCO-IHE will facilitate the WfWP's participation in technical and high-level events; a future scholarship and internship programme. This also will be aimed at enhancing women's participation and practice on the ground components in UNESCO-IHE's education programs and with its academic partners. The new partners will disseminate each others material at events and will fundraise together.

Women for Water Partnership

The Women for Water Partnership is an international network of women's organisations with presence in approximately 100 countries of the world. They contribute to women's empowerment and combating poverty taking water and sanitation as a point of entry.

UNESCO-IHE website

Women for Water Partnership website

World Water Day - 22nd March 2010

This is a United Nations Day.

The international observance of World Water Day is an initiative that grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro.

UN-Water has chosen ”Communicating Water Quality Challenges and Opportunities” as theme for World Water Day 2010. The overall goal of the World Water Day on 22 March 2010 campaign is to raise the profile of water quality at the political level so that water quality considerations are made alongside those of water quantity.

The 2010 World Water Day 's theme; ‘It’s a Water Celebration’. During the 2010 World Water Day Celebration there shall be the launch of the Community Health Education and School Sanitation (CHESS) Africa Project, which aims at not only at helping communities and schools understand the importance of water but actually working in collaboration with these communities and schools to provide them with clean/safe water and adequate sanitation.

http://www.soroptimistsgoforwater.nl

http://www.worldwaterday.org/

Your guide to the world’s longest toilet Queue

World Water Day, 22 March 2010, is a crucial
moment in the fight to tackle the global
sanitation and water crisis.

Just one month later, politicians from across
the globe will gather to discuss what they need
to do to fulfil some of the most basic rights of
the world’s citizens - access to a safe toilet and
clean water. they must act, and so must we.

The world’s longest toilet Queue is a global
mobilisation bringing together thousands of
campaigners from across the world to demand
real change. we need your voice too.

Become part of a global movement this world
water day. this toolkit will tell you how.

EARTH HOUR - 27th March 2010

EARTH HOUR - 27th March 2010

Join thousands of people around the world in doing a little bit to help mitigate the effects of Climate Change.

SI/E has signed up - why don't you?

Go to http://www.earthhour.org/and add your name.

Don't forget - 8.30pm wherever you are in the world. Mmm... a candlelight dinner sounds nice!

Soroptimist International Incentive Prize

The Soroptimist International Incentive Prize was awarded at the International Women’s Day in Berlin.

The SI German Union hosted the event in the federal State building of Nordrhein-Westfalen.
This was the second time the German Union presented this prize.

The prizewinner Prof. Dr. Dagmar Schipanski received a cheque of € 20,000 for her project to which inspires and stimulates women and girls to study science and physics; to increase the number of women in the world of science.

State Secretary of the Ministry of Gender, Family, Women and Integration of the Federal State, Dr. Marion Gierden-Jülich and Union President Sibylle Lindenberg presented the prize to Prof. Schipanski

The prize giving ceremony which was was sponsored by the Federal State and Henkel was attended by many Soroptimists and guests.
The goals of Soroptimist International were clearly stated by IPP Mariet Verhoef-Cohen and Union President Sybille Lindenberg.

The prizewinner, Prof. Dr. Schipanski presented her winning project and emphasized how important it is for a sustainable future that women are interested in science and physics and how vital it is for them to enroll and complete these studies.

It was an uplifting ceremony of high-quality and brought home how active Soroptimist International of Europe really are in inspiring women in all fields.

Prof Schipanski in the middel and Union president Sybille on the left.

Anna Tibaijuka / Sanitation in the Urban Millennium / PART 6

Anna Tibaijuka talks about sanitation issues, at the Soroptimist International of Europe Water Congress, held in Amsterdam, 2009.

Water is Life, Sanitation is Dignity.

Anna Tibaijuka is the Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN-HABITAT. (www.unhabitat.org)

http://www.soroptimisteurope.org

http://www.soroptimistsgoforwater.nl

webclips by http://www.buzzmedia.net

Sylvia Borren / So Much We Can Do / PART 4

Speech delivered by Sylvia Borren at the Soroptimist International of Europe Water Congress '09 in Amsterdam.

Water is Life, Sanitation is Dignity

http://www.soroptimisteurope.org
http://www.soroptimistsgoforwater.nl

webclip by: http://www.buzzmedia.net

Sylvia Borren is co-chair of the Worldconnectors and GCAP (the Global Call to Action against Poverty), chair of the EEN campaign, and Project leader of Quality Educators for All, a project of Education International labor union and Oxfam Novib.

Old Cell phone for WATER

Dear all,

water is precious, as we all know.
However there is more we can do than taking shorter showers or brushing teeth without running water.
An initiative that goes along with the "World Water Day / Weltwassertag 2010" is aimed at helping those people that have no or bad access to clean water:

http://www.wasserfuerafrika.de/

I would like you to help me supporting one of the projects:
Every old cell phone, old, not in use, that is sent to Vodafone, results in a donation of 3 Euros. The money will be used to support the water projects in Africa.

--> If you have any old cell phone, that is broken or just not used, please give it to me. I will organize the shipment to Vodafone and will keep you updated on the amount of money we were able to collect. Just put it on my desk or send it via Hauspost (M02) please.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COOPERATION !!!!

http://www.wasserfuerafrika.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47&Itemid=55



Kind regards, Ulla

Ulla Hüppe
International Brand Management
- Gliss Kur

International Women's Day 2010

International Women's Day 2010

Monday, 8th March 2010

International Days

Even though it may not be considered fashionable these days, I have to confess that I am a feminist. Originating from the suffragettes who chain-linked themselves to lampposts and the bra-burning hippies from the seventies, feminism is now considered slightly ridiculous and outdated. The young women of today either think that women have equal rights or that the good old days of being a housewife were not that bad after all.

For me, feminism simply means that a woman has the same rights as a man, has equal access to health services and education and can function as a responsible, leading person in her community. Those minimal rights are still a utopia for millions of women and girls today. We, as Soroptimist, must empower women and girls to become equal partners in their communities and show our solidarity to the women all over the world by celebrating March 8, International Women’s Day

Education is the key to a better life; literacy enables women to know and defend their rights and opens the road to self-improvement. To be educated and to go to school, girls must have the time and be in good health. Freeing them of water-fetching chores gives them time. Having access to clean water and adequate sanitation helps preserve their health.

That is why World Water Day on March 22nd is so important and must remind us of the 2.5 billion people who lack these basic services. Soroptimist can help by supporting and implementing water and sanitation projects.

In most communities, women are responsible for providing and managing the water supplies. By setting up practical and sustainable water projects and teaching the women to manage them, we empower the local women to be responsible and respected members of their community.

Women’s emancipation and access to safe water and sanitation are both basic human rights that SI/E has pledged to sustain.

So, with all this in mind, I encourage you to be an old-fashioned feminist like me: stand up for women and their rights (no handcuffs or bra-burning needed) and campaign for access to safe water and sanitation for all – but especially for women and girls. If you need inspiration, please go to our water website www.soroptimistsgoforwater.nl or go to the SI/E web site www.soroptimisteurope.org and learn about the latest projects and events .

In friendship,

Eliane Lagasse

SI/E President 2009-2011

Video Message from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

The fight for women’s rights is central to the UN’s global mission.

Fifteen years ago, in Beijing, Governments committed themselves to equality, development and peace for all women, in all countries.

The Beijing Declaration was a landmark on the road to women’s empowerment.

It has guided policy making.

It has inspired women and girls to strive for equality and opportunity, and reminded everyone that this is their right.

We have seen progress.

Girls are now more likely to receive an education.

Women are now more likely to run businesses or participate in government.

But much work remains.

Death in childbirth is still too common. Too few women have access to family planning.

Violence against women remains a cause of global shame, and sexual violence in war is endemic.

I have just appointed a special representative to mobilize international action to address these crimes.

At the United Nations itself, we have more women in senior posts than at any time in history.

Securing women’s rights is central to all our hopes for peace, security and sustainable development.

As we look back on 15 years of achievement, let us look forward to a world of equality and progress for all.

Huge Garbage Patch Found in Atlantic Too

source: National Geographic News

Published March 2, 2010

Billions of bits of plastic are accumulating in a massive garbage patch in the Atlantic Ocean—a lesser known cousin to the Texas-size trash vortex in the Pacific, scientists say.

"Many people have heard of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch," said Kara Lavender Law, an oceanographer at the Sea Education Association in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. (See pictures of the Pacific Ocean trash vortex.)

"But this issue has essentially been ignored in the Atlantic."

The newly described garbage patch sits hundreds of miles off the North American coast. Although its east-west span is unknown, the patch covers a region between 22 and 38 degrees north latitude—roughly the distance from Cuba to Virginia (see a U.S. map).

As with the Pacific garbage patch, plastic can circulate in this part of the Atlantic Ocean for years, posing health risks to fish, seabirds, and other marine animals that accidentally eat the litter.

For entire article, visit National Geographic

Cousteau webclip by Soroptimist International of Europe / Buzzmedia Network

Writing Women Back into History

March is Women’s History Month!

Check out the National Women’s History Project’s

"Writing Women Back into History."

http://www.nwhp.org/whm/index.php

Anna Tibaijuka / Sanitation in the Urban Millennium / Part 5

Anna Tibaijuka on sanitation issues and their effects on women.
Speech held at the Soroptimist International of Europe Water Congress, held in Amsterdam, 2009.

Water is Life, Sanitation is Dignity.

Anna Tibaijuka is the Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN-HABITAT. (www.unhabitat.org)

http://www.soroptimisteurope.org

http://www.soroptimistsgoforwater.nl

webclips by http://www.buzzmedia.net

Jointly achieving sustainable livelihoods

UNESCO-IHE and the Women for Water Partnership (WfWP) have agreed to jointly enhance women's participation in achieving sustainable livelihoods

With the launch of this strategic partnership, UNESCO-IHE and the WfWP will work on UNESCO-IHE’s Waters & Society Programme, on the World Water Development Report of the United Nations and on the follow-up of the outcomes of World Water Forum 5.

Co-convenors

WfWP and UNESCO-IHE were co-convenors of Topic 6.1 'Education and Capacity Development Strategies' at the World Water Forum, at which their creative approach in highlighting the issues drew many accolades. The strategic partnership is intended to broaden the joint efforts towards inclusion of gender issues and women's empowerment in the water and sanitation sectors.

Scholarship

Besides this, UNESCO-IHE will facilitate the WfWP's participation in technical and high-level events; a future scholarship and internship programme. This also will be aimed at enhancing women's participation and practice on the ground components in UNESCO-IHE's education programs and with its academic partners. The new partners will disseminate each others material at events and will fundraise together.

Women for Water Partnership

The Women for Water Partnership is an international network of women's organisations with presence in approximately 100 countries of the world. They contribute to women's empowerment and combating poverty taking water and sanitation as a point of entry.

UNESCO-IHE website

Women for Water Partnership website

75% of China's rivers and lakes are polluted

China has 20% of the world’s population but only 7% of global water resources. To make matters worse, 90% of cities’ groundwater and 75% of rivers and lakes are polluted according to the World Bank. This means that 700 million people drink contaminated water every day.

source: 15 Facts About China That Will Blow Your Mind

http://www.businessinsider.com/15-facts-about-china-that-will-blow-your-mind-2010-2#the-majority-of-chinese-drink-polluted-water-15

WHITE PAPER ABSTRACT: Teen Dating Violence

source: soroptimist.org/whitepapers/wp_teendating.html

In this white paper, Soroptimist International of the Americas, working to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world, examines the issue of teen dating violence. Dating and intimate relationships are a normal part of growing up for many adolescents. Yet teenagers frequently form their first romantic relationship without a clear understanding of what constitutes a healthy versus an unhealthy relationship.

As a result, they are particularly vulnerable to becoming targets of dating abuse. Fifty-seven percent of teens know someone who has been verbally, physically, or sexually abusive in a dating relationship. Moreover, females ages 16 to 24 are more vulnerable to intimate partner violence than any other age group. Although the patterns and signs of teen dating violence tend to mirror those exhibited in adult abusive relationships, there are some unique issues that teens face. This white paper examines those unique issues as they relate to the factors that influence teen dating violence, as well as the consequences thereof.

The paper also addresses the unique obstacles teens face when seeking help and/or deciding to end an abusive relationship.

Download White Paper

webclip: Soroptimist Africa Projects

Soroptimist Africa Projects from Soroptimist Europe on Vimeo.

See how Soroptimists support their sisters in various development projects and in helping to build a better future. Projects run by Soroptimists in Africa for improving conditions for young women.

soroptimisteurope.org
soroptimistsgoforwater.nl

webclips by:
buzzmedia.net

webclip: Anna Tibaijuka / Sanitation in the Urban Millennium / Part 4

Anna Tibaijuka / Sanitation in the Urban Millennium / Part 4

Anna Tibaijuka on sanitation issues. Speech held at the Soroptimist International of Europe Water Congress, held in Amsterdam, 2009.

Water is Life, Sanitation is Dignity.

Anna Tibaijuka is the Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN-HABITAT. (www.unhabitat.org)

http://www.soroptimisteurope.org
http://www.soroptimistsgoforwater.nl

webclips by http://www.buzzmedia.net

Clean Water for a Healthy World

Water and sanitation

Clean Water for a Healthy World

Water is life. It is as simple as that!

Did you know that 1 in 6 of us around the world does not have access to safe, clean water? That for many, the only water available is over five miles away or brown or too expensive? Can you imagine going a day without water? Or seeing a child die from diarrhea because he or she only had dirty water to drink?

In the 2010 World Water Day shall be organising activities with the theme; ‘It’s a Water Celebration’. During the 2010 World Water Day Celebration they shall be launching the Community Health Education and School Sanitation (CHESS) Africa Project which aims at not only helping communities and schools understand the importance of water but actually working in collaboration with these communities and schools to provide them with clean/safe water and adequate sanitation.

Project: Rainwater harvesting, Bambusi, Eastern Surinam

The project:

Many villages in the interior of East Surinam are already enjoying the luxury of clean and safe drinking water. However, several small villages still remain to be provided with these facilities since, in general, sponsors tend to focus on larger villages.
Formerly, water for all purposes was gathered from the mighty rivers.
Pollution nowadays has reached a level that has become a threat to the health and safety of the people concerned.

Using rainwater harvesting in large water-containers has proven to be a rather simple solution for these problems: containers can be purchased locally and transported to the villages while installation, after properly instructions, can and will be done by the locals themselves.

Providing the small villages with clean and safe water gives the people both health and socialwise advantages to improve their standard of living.
This project is meant for 5 families living in Bambusi in the Beneden-Marowijne area.


Main target of the project:
To provide safe and clean water for people living in villages in the interior of eastern Suriname
People will be trained in proper use and maintenance, a training program established by Pater Ahlbrinck Stichting (PAS)
People will work together; they will be able to live more healthy and will cooperate with the civil society organization.


Involvement of the target group:
The target group will appoint a project coordinator. The person will organize the participation of the target group such as taking care of the installation of the water tanks; transportation of these water tanks, using their boats for transportation etc


In Cooperation with:
- PAS (Pater Albrinck Stichting) an organization existing for 40 years, very active in the interior of Suriname and therefore familiar with the needs of the locals.

- SI Club of Paramaribo, Surinam
(Contact: Agnes Guda e- mail: agsomsar@planet.nl)


Total Cost:
5 water tanks for Bambusi 5 x SRD1350,- = 6750 SRD ,- (€1688,-)
Sponsor € 88,-

SI Project: Let our children drink safe water

SI Karşıyaka, Turkey
Project: Mevlana Primary School
Improve access to clean water, sanitation and essential food resources

In our visits to Mevlana primary School, we observed that the outside garden fountains were not sanitized enough and we established a filtration system to clean water.

We believe that safe water is essential in our lives and we want to protect our children from the disadvantages of contaminated water.

Our member, who was a mechanical engineer, did the research and her own company placed the filtration system. It worked with Ultraviolet energy and cleaned the micro-organism. We proved it by the analysis of water.We also had an opening in the school garden with the students, members and the school board.

Results 
The school garden fountains were proved to be safe with analysis and the children could drink clean water while they were playing .

Women Helped 750

Girls Helped 20
Project Start 12 / 2008 
Completion n/a
Project Costs $501-1000

Number of Hours 401-500

Join the advocacy campaigns

JOIN THE ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS

8th March 2010 www.womenforwomen.org

JOIN WOMEN ON THE BRIDGE – is the crescendo of our first integrated global event. It unites women all over the world in showing that they can build the bridges of peace and development for the future. By joining this event women will be standing alongside women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, Iraq, Sudan, and Nigeria in saying no to war and yes to peace, development and hope. Read more Toolkit

22nd March 2010 www.worldtoiletqueue.org

MAKE A STAND FOR SANITATION & WATER Join a Guinness World Record attempt – and help solve a global crisis at the same time. read more

A shared message from Social NGO's across Europe

from The European Women's Lobby and End Poverty

2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion

2010 has been designated as the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. The Year comes during a time of severe financial, economic and social crisis. Part of the necessary response to this crisis is the renewal of a common vision for the type of society we want to create. A commitment to building a Europe where women and men of all ages can live free of poverty and social exclusion, should be the legacy
of the 2010 Year. This would contribute to a real recovery plan to address the current crisis.

Poverty is a multidimensional phenomenon

It is not simply the lack of financial resources and income, whether through employment or social benefits. It also encompasses the notion of vulnerability, precariousness, lack of opportunities, injustice and denial of rights, such as access to
education and health, housing, employment, services and infrastructure, as well as access to information, culture and political participation.

Against the backdrop of the worldwide financial and economic crisis, NGOs are concerned that the current EU strategy of ‘growth and jobs’ and market liberalisation, without attention to fairness, inclusion, participation and re‐distribution, has failed to deliver a social Europe, where everyone has access to fundamental rights.

2010, the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, represents an opportunity to make policy changes that will have a real impact on fighting inequalities and create a Europe free of poverty in the long term. We therefore call for a wide mobilisation at local, national, and European level.

SI/E extends support to Soroptimists in Haiti

January 13, 2010

Dear Soroptimist Sisters,

We are deeply saddened at the horrendous earthquake that has caused so many deaths in Haiti. We would like to extend our heart-felt sympathies to our sisters in Haiti and reassure them that we will support them throughout this disastrous ordeal.

We share the grief of all those who have lost loved ones and hope for the recovery of those who have been injured. We are profoundly affected by the devastating consequences this tragedy has and will have on Haiti’s inhabitants and we will provide any assistance needed.

Dr. Eliane Lagasse
SI/E President 2009-2011

Hanne Jensbo, Lala & Club of Fianarantsoa

Dear Hanne Jensbo,

On behalf of all the members of the Club of Fianarantsoa, I hereby send you and all the members of the club of Aarhus and Aarhus Kraka our big thanks for the help you gave us in 2009.

In fact, the club has realized the building of toilets in the park and all the accessories (games such as toboggan, swing,…and the garden and the hedges around it) ; they all have been rehabilitated too.

I’m very sorry if it has taken so long for us to send you the report but the new staff of the club is not yet ready. Beside that, the political situation in Madagascar is not yet stabilized till now; that is why I've decided to send you this letter and some photos of the inauguration of the sanitary fittings on December 10th 2009.

Now, we were very pleased to tell you that everything goes smoothly and the neighbourhood have appreciated this opportunity. They have even told us that they will participate in the cleaning of the place and the surroundings.

We can’t do anything either than reiterating our deepest sympathy and our grateful thanks to you Hanne and all the Soroptimists of Aarhus and Aarhus Kraka.

Sending to you all the warmest wishes for the cold Christmas in Europe and a very happy New Year 2010 .

Sincerely yours.

Lala

Past President of the Club of Fianarantsoa.

Outcome of the Water Project of the Swiss Union

I will gladly inform you about the outcome of the Water Project of the Swiss Union

2006 – 2008

We are very proud that the project was a bigger success than was anticipated.
The Swiss Union collected much more money than was foreseen. We got 120'000,- Euros, the Soroptimists in Lviv act as trustee and survey the progress of the project. They make sure that the money is spent cost-effectively for the installation of pipes and sanitation in the hospital.

CHF 25.000,- = E. 16.831,- have been spent before October 2007
With the rest of the money the sanitation in the hospital is nearly completed and the second wing can get started yet.
Total amount after 1 October Euro 103.169,-

12 Swiss Soroptimists and 2 husbands met the Lviv sisters last summer and were very pleased about the progress of the work. It was a happy moment when we visited the new wing. One mother told us that she now feels much more at ease when her child has to go to hospital, as it is no longer a mouldy place.
What's more: Our visit had the side effect, that individual Soroptimists collected money for windows, doors, electric installations, etc. as the Soroptimist Union project only entails water and sanitation installations.

There is still a lot of work to do which means employment for people in the region.

Sina Stiffler

Sponsoring clean water supply in new pipes and sanitary facilities for Hospital Bryuchovychy in Lviv, Ukraine.

Inspire Us!

“Don’t keep what you do for yourself - Share it with others! Inspire us with your stories!”
- write to us on our blog or here: soroptimist.europe@googlemail.com

Anna Tibaijuka / Sanitation in the Urban Millennium / Part 3

Anna Tibaijuka / Sanitation in the Urban Millennium / Part 3 from Soroptimist Europe on Vimeo.

Anna Tibaijuka talks about sanitation issues, at the Soroptimist International of Europe Water Congress, held in Amsterdam, 2009.

Water is Life, Sanitation is Dignity.

Anna Tibaijuka is the Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN-HABITAT. (www.unhabitat.org)

soroptimisteurope.org
soroptimistsgoforwater.nl

webclips by buzzmedia.net

SI/E Vice Presidents

Vice Presidents

SI/E 1st Vice President

Tasks of the SI/E 1st Vice President (2009-2011) Ulla Madsen :

• Twinning of mature and Young Unions
• Countries responsible for : Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Russia

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SI/E Vice President

Tasks of the SI/E Vice President (2009-2011) Daniela Stern :

• Mentoring Project
• Countries responsible for : Germany, Austria, The Netherlands, Hungary, Slovenia, Israel, Slovakia, Liechtenstein, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic and Kosovo.

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SI/E Vice President

Tasks of the SI/E Vice President (2009-2011) Boguslawa Kalita :

• Coordinated Report Layout
• Countries responsible for : Poland, Romania Bulgaria, Turkey, Ukraine, Georgia and Moldavia.

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SI/E Vice President

Tasks of theSI/E Vice President (2009-2011) Rina Dupriet :

• Dr. Suzanne Noël Award
• Countries responsible for : France Monaco, San Marino, Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Belgium, Switerland, Spain, Portugal, Luxemburg, North Africa and Egypt.

A Call to the 6th Peace Marathon 2010 in Rwanda

A Call to the 6th Peace Marathon 2010 in Rwanda
on Whitsun 23 May

There are many reasons to go to Rwanda for the Peace Marathon 2010.

The first Marathon was organised by Soroptimist International of Europe in 2005:

For one thing, you will witness the enormous progress this beautiful country has made since the horrific genocide of 1994. Be inspired by the incredible enthusiasm of the youngsters participating in the Run for Fun event. They are the future of Africa!

Information can be provided about how to register and travel to Kigali. Details of the Tours in Rwanda can be found on the tour operator’s website http://www.mercatorassistance.rw
The marathon is the perfect occasion to meet Rwandan Soroptimists and to visit their many education and water projects around the country. You will also enjoy the wonderful Rwandan food with the freshest vegetable and fruit you can imagine. Several tours will be offered which you will find under http://www.kigalimarathon.com . For example seeing the gorillas in their natural habitat is an unforgettable experience!

Don’t miss to visit San Marco in Kigali, a unique Soroptimist project which has created a huge multifunctional meeting hall and training facility. You will be tempted to buy some of the handmade objects from pupils of San Marco and other educational projects.

The workshop in vegetable fibres for Young Designers from Europe and from Africa will take place at San Marco for the second time in May. This project is extremely fascinating http://www.gaddo.eu . See what wonderful things are made from materials like grass, banana leaves and bark.

To further support the event if you cannot personally go to Rwanda, why not contact the marathon organisations in your country and have them advertise the marathon on their website. Another idea is to organise a Peace Marathon evening in your community showing photos and a video of previous marathons.

Or, why not sponsor runners from your country to participate in the full marathon or the half-marathon?

Contact the media. Send press releases and reports before the run, and ask the media to publish articles about he results of the run. And, of course, always emphasise that it is a Soroptimist event that benefits the people of Rwanda.

For more information contact: Gudrun Horst horstgu@lpt.lu

or Bettina Scholl-Sabbatini betmar@tango.lu

Kathy Kaaf, SI/E President elect 2009-2011