Founded in 1921, Soroptimist International is a world-wide volunteer service organization for business and professional women who work to improve the lives of women and girls, in local communities and throughout the world. Through their General (Category One) Consultative Status as a non-governmental organization at the United Nations, the organization claims to seek equality, peace, and international goodwill for women. The Mission Statement of the organization is:
Through international partnerships and a global network of members, Soroptimists inspire action and create opportunities to transform the lives of women and girls by: Advocating for equity and equality; Creating safe and healthy environments; Increasing access to education; Developing leadership and practical skills for a sustainable future.
There are four Federations around the world; SI of the Americas, SI Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI) Ltd, SI of Europe and SI of South West Pacific. The headquarters office for Soroptimist International is in Cambridge, UK.
The organization comprises approximately 95,000 members in more than 125 countries and territories worldwide who contribute time and financial support to community-based and international projects.
Soroptimist members belong to local clubs, which determine the focus of service to their communitie
The name "Soroptimist" was coined by combining the Latin words soror "sister" and optimus "best", and can be taken to mean "best for sisters" (referring to women in general).
Why Women and Girls?
Soroptimist means "best for women" and that's what we strive to be—an organization of women at their best helping other women to be their best. As a volunteer organization of business and professional women we feel uniquely qualified to help women and girls live their dreams.
It's true that both men and women live in poverty, face discrimination and must overcome obstacles. But throughout history—in every country in the world—women and girls face additional obstacles and discrimination solely because of their gender. Why Do Women and Girls Need Our Help? Consider the following: One in three women have been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in their lifetime. According to a recent report, of the 600,000-800,000 people trafficked across international borders annually, 80 percent are female. Women work two-thirds of the world's working hours but earn only 10 percent of the world's property. Of a total 550 million working poor, 330 million (60 percent) are women. The United Nations estimates that globally women's unpaid care is worth up to $11 trillion annually. Two-thirds of the 880 million illiterate adults are women. Of the more that 110 million children not in school, approximately 60 percent are girls. By age 18, girls have received an average of 4.4 years less education than boys. In some countries in sub-Saharan Africa, adolescent girls have HIV rates up to five times higher than adolescent boys. Pregnancies and childbirth-related health problems take the lives of nearly 146,000 teenage girls each year. An estimated 450 million adult women in developing countries are stunted, a direct result of malnutrition in early life. Two million girls and women are subjected to female genital mutilation every year, and thousands suffer needlessly from obstetric fistula. http://www.soroptimist.org/whywomen/whywomen.html