Opening to SI/E Amsterdam Congress

For those of you who could not attend the event, here's the passionate opening address by SIE President Mariet Verhoef-Cohen at 19th Soroptimist International Congress in Amsterdam.

Over the coming weeks we will be streaming extracts from the keynote speakers' addresses on this platform. Please watch this space in the weeks ahead. The speakers include Fabien Cousteau, with powerful messages on the impending water crisis, sanitation and women's health.

Tackling the current global water crisis

SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF EUROPE 19^TH European Congress

The theme of this year’s congress, “Soroptimists go for water” is a highly topical issue.

Tackling the current global water crisis signifies working to preserve an invaluable local heritage in each and every country. By adopting this theme, European Soroptimists continue to strive for Peace. Indeed, how can we build peace if natural resources are being degraded to the point of scarcity? It is impossible to achieve sustainable social and economic development without a well thought out strategy for addressing ecological issues. Lack of safe drinking water is a key element, already underlying various areas of conflict.

It is women who bear the brunt of the problem of water shortage. And women must be fully involved in the management of this vital resource.

The SI congress in Amsterdam demonstrates the determination of European Federation Soroptimists to take on this challenge. The high quality speakers and ensuing discussions will surely serve to enhance our awareness of the scale of the problem.

Monique Riviere
SI/E Federation President
2005-2007

Sunday's Schedule (International European Congress 09)

A quick reminder of tomorrow's Schedule (Sunday) for those attending the Soroptimist International European Congress 2009 in Amsterdam, ENJOY!

Sunday 12 July 2009

08:00 - 10:00 foyer Registration
09:15 - 09:40 plenary session summary of theme sessions
09:40 - 10:35 plenary session Sylvia Borren
10.35 - 10:45 Art in Rhythm
10:45 - 11:10 foyer coffee break
11.10 - 11:15 plenary session announcements
11:15 - 11:40 presentation of SI/E Water Awards
11:40 - 12:20 plenary session Djeevan Schiferli
12:20 - 12:50 exchange of Insignia
12:50 - 13:00 Art in Rhythm
13:30 - 19:30 boat trip

http://www.soroptimistsgoforwater.nl/SIECongress/Programme/tabid/122/Default.aspx

JEUNES FEMMES

Jeunes Femmes from Soroptimist Europe on Vimeo.

soroptimisteurope.org

webclip par: buzzmedia.net

Water Best Practice Award 2009: PLEASE USE YOUR VOTE!

Water Best Practice Award 2009
Two Water Awards

• The Water Best Practice Award 2009 (€ 10.000,-)
• The Public’s Project Award (€ 5.000,-)

The Awards will be honored at the 19th European Congress of SI/E in Amsterdam.

Water Best Practice Award:
* a shortlist of nominated projects has been selected by the Selection Committee immediately after April 1.
* from 1 June onwards, the selected projects will be presented on this SI/E website. www.soroptimisteurope.org

Public’s Project Award:
* the Public Project Award will be nominated by the public through on-line voting for one of the projects shortlisted by the Selection Committee and presented on the website
* to cast your vote, fill in the voting form provided on the website.
* the votes will be counted by the Selection Committee.

PLEASE USE YOUR VOTE! the VOTING FORM CAN BE FOUND HERE:

http://www.soroptimistsgoforwater.nl/SoroptimistsgoforWater/WaterProjects/PublicsWaterAwardVotingForm/tabid/188/Default.aspx

The on line voting will continue until July 8th, 2009.

The winners of both awards will be announced during the SI/E Congress in Amsterdam, on Sunday July 12, 2009.

Thank you!

Soroptimist School Projects

Soroptimists International join forces to tackle education issues.

Together, primary schools for girls are built, giving the children a chance to read and write, equipping them for further education - so as to become independent and capable of making their own living in the future
-uniforms and books are provided for, and parents are motivated to take the children to school



www.soroptimisteurope.org

webclip by Buzzmedia Network

Walk the World!

Last Sunday, 7th June 2009, the whole world was once again on the move. Within 24 hours and in all 24 time zones, thousands of people put on their walking shoes and joined in a five kilometer walk to campaign against poverty and hunger.

Did you know that:

• More than 800 million people in the world do not get enough to eat, most of them are women and children.
• Almost 200 million children under five years of age are underweight due to a lack of food
• Malnutrition in children causes mental retardation and physical stunting
• One child dies every seven seconds from hunger and related causes
• For only US$ 50 per year (or 25 cents a day) you can fill a plate of nutritious porridge for a needy child in school.

End Hunger - Walk the World is a global event initiated in 2003 by TNT, a global mail and logistics company, in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). TNT and WFP works together with FAO and many NGOs to help raise awareness about poverty and hunger in the world and raise funds for WFP supported school feeding programmes in the poorest countries. School feeding programmes are a powerful way of reducing child hunger and increasing the enrollment of more children, and particularly girls, in primary schools, which is part of our SI Programme Focus 2007-2011 and the corresponding Millennium Development Goals.

Did your club participate?
To find out how to organize a ‘’Walk’’ visit www.WFP.org ( > How to Help > For Individuals and you will find “Walk the World” and “How to find out More”).
There may also be a WFP Office in your own country or region which you can contact directly. To organize a ‘’Walk’’ is easy and a lot of fun – and, remember, your Club will be encouraging many more children, and specially girls, from poor countries, to attend school and help them fight hunger pains and concentrate on their studies.

We'd love to hear your stories of participation, so if you have any pictures and experiences to share and inspire the world with, please send them to:

soroptimist.europe@googlemail.com

source, via: http://www.soroptimisteurope.org