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Federation Project 2021-2024

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Federation Project 2021-2024

Written by SISEAP WebDev on . Posted in Federation Project 2021-2024.

East Timor '24 project

The aim of this project is to bring two qualified professional young women, Pascoela Bareta and Maria Guterres, from Dili in East Timor to Perth for a educational skills transfer visit, where they will visit hospitals, cancer treatment clinics, libraries and educational facilities to observe modern practices, the learnings gained from the educational visit will empower them to increase their potential and to improve the lives of women and children in East Timor.  These young women are already leaders in their communities, one in the field of education and the diagnosis of cancer in women and the other in inclusive library management and the implementation of education scholarships,  by expanding their knowledge, and observing modern methods and ideas, they will take these learnings back to East Timor to improve their own practices and empower the knowledge to others. 

SI Joondalup the sponsoring club, has a long term relationship with both these women, who they met in 2010 as young village girls, who through poverty or lack of opportunity had no hope of tertiary education. With the assistance of SI Joondalup, both women graduated with honours in science.. Their visit to Perth was to allow them skills transfer and learning opportunities.  

Images below are from the Xanana Gusmao Reading Room where Maria is the Manager.

SI Joondalup project lead Jennie Van Driel arranged visits with the following facilities. 

  • Harry Perkins Research institute hosted by Dr Andrew Redfern, Medical Director
  • The Western Australian State Library, tour by head librarian
  • Kalamunda Hospice
  • St John of God Oncology  Department visit hosted by team manager
  • Aboriginal Language Corporation  meeting with chief linguist and tour of facilities
  • McGrath Foundation  for Breast Cancer Care

Highlights and takeouts on the visit by Pascoela Bareta :

On visiting the Harry Perkins Institute, I was overwhelmed with everything – the generosity of the Institute, and Prof Andy in particular for giving up so much time, the size of the facility, the speed with which they can process pathology. Oncology department, the literature available for patients, the availability of access to collaborative effort in education and medical knowledge was wonderful. 

What I gained from my visit:

1.      Possible colloboration with Professor Andrew Redfern possibility will collaborate with Medical Oncology department in the future Maybe he can share his specialist on researchers on Cancer or other diseases to our medical Oncology doctor in Dili National Hospital

2.      Also, will collaborate with Harry Perkis Institute may they provide training to our health worker in Timor Leste.

3.      Feeling blessed that I had this opportunity to visit Harry Perkins Institute. 

Thank you once again for a spectacular presentation and tour.  The generosity of all involved was amazing.

My visit to the Kalamunda Hospice

That was one of my favorite places to visit the staff were very kind and generous in giving of their time to explain all detail to us. Actually, it’s my first time visit to Hospice,  in Timor Leste we don’t have any.  Really appreciate that Judy spent her time explaining all the details of the set-up of the Hospice. Such valuable practical information to me to bring home when we establish a Centre this year.
What am gain here during my visit:

1.      Connection medical doctor and Nurse at Kalamunda Hospital ask their support to provide us with their knowledge.

2.      Dr. Yamin also sharing Connection on Mentorship, awareness and fostering link in the Asia Pacific region. Will write an email to the president to provide online class on Palliative Care for nurse students

3.      Also, received valuable information and ideas on how to set up HALIKU women’s cancer support Center

4.      Impressed with how patients use creative activities every day with nurses, this provides me with inspiration maybe in the future our center will use this knowledg. 

Highlights and takeout by Maria Guterres on her visit: 

1..       The management of the book collection at the City of Joondalup and Wanneroo Library and Cultural 2entre is very well organised and this could be one of the ideas for me to adapt the management of the book collection in the XGRR library to make it look attractive and easily accessible to visitors.

2.       Possibilitity that the Joondalup City library will make a book donation to the XGRR library in the future.

3.        Book donations from: Harry Parkinsh, Kalamunda Hospital, Breast Cancer Care, and ASeTTS.

4.       Kate Van Driel and Jennie Van Driel have agreed to support the scholarship programme at XGRR.  They are committed to transfer money annually to support one student until the student graduates.

5.       I also learnt about the importance of preserving local languages and one of the things I learnt from the visit to the Noongar Boodjar Language Centre was how they make dictionaries for local languages using objects in the environment. I received an aboriginal language dictionary donated by Mr Kate Van Driel and this dictionary will be very important as it will serve as an example for the local language preservation programme in XGRR.

Below: Pascoela Barreto and Maria Guterres with Professor Andrew redfern at The Harry Perkins medical research Institute.

Project Lead Jennie Van Driel, reports on outcomes achieved since the visit:

Professor Andrew Redfern from the Harry Perkins medical centre has since visited Dili, and has written on suggestions of how he could help with the cancer clinic in Dili. 
The things that come to mind are: 

  • working out some kind of data collection process so cases can be measured, at least to an extent.
  • suggestions on screening engagement and delivery
  • possibility of a pathology service, even if specimens are taken and prepared locally and then slides are assessed in WA
  • a simple compendium of the most essential anti-cancer treatments that are off-patent or not vastly expensive.
  • Some form of negotiation with various pharma companies might help.

Pascoela Barreto was also put in contact with the International Arm of St John of God Medical Services which had an agent in Timor Leste.  This was  arranged by staff at St John of God Hospital in Perth which they visited.

The Australia Hospice Association has provided a workshop on end of life care to Dili and medical services in the hinterland   This service was instigated by the Kalamunda Hospital and Hospice which they visited while in Perth

Back here in Perth we have had an enquiry from another Soroptimist club who would like to continue to work with us on the Timor Leste project.

  • Local member of Parliament Emily Hamilton with Pascoela Maria and Jennie Van Driel

  • West Australian breast Care office. Maria and Pascoela with Soroptimist Jennie Van Driel and McGrath Breast Cancer nurse and office manager

  • Maria and Pascoela with staff members at St John of God Hospital in Perth

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Written by SISEAP WebDev on . Posted in Federation Project 2021-2024.

Murik Lakes Seeds of Friendship Community Garden

Soroptimist International Moreton North Inc

Project coordinator - Kylian Kenni

The primary aim of the project is food security, followed by economic empowerment for the women.  
The project meets SDG 2, 4 and 8 as well as 5 of the 8 SISEAP objectives of:

  •  Education
  •  Elimination of violence
  •  Economic empowerment
  •  Food security, Healthcare
  •  Environmental sustainability/water/sanitation

Project Concept

Location: Darapap Village, Murik Lakes area, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

Purpose: To enhance food security, education, and economic empowerment through the establishment of an above-ground Community Garden

SDG Goals:

2 – Zero Hunger and Food Security: The elevated above water platform garden will provide a consistent and reliable source of food for the villagers, addressing issues related to hunger and malnutrition. It will also offer surplus produce for sale, which will contribute to reducing poverty.
8 – Decent work and Economic Empowerment: This project has a direct impact on women who are responsible for food security and water supply for their families
By involving the Darapap Women’s Co-Operative Society, the project aims to create economic opportunities for women. Income generated from selling surplus produce will help women purchase essential items such as medical supplies and school materials.
4 - Educational Benefits: The project will provide learning opportunities related to sustainable agriculture and community management, contributing to the broader educational goals of the village.

The project aims to provide Darapap village with materials (timber, transportation, seeds, fertiliser etc.) to build a elevated platform above sea level, to grow a sustainable vegetable gardens, the gardens will produce their own food and to produce a surplus for selling.  This empowers the women to feed their families a healthy well-balanced diet not relying on rice and seafood only. Growing their own food enables them to earn income from the sale of excess produce at market, they can re-sprout seeds from previous crops, making it a sustainable project. The income generated helps them purchase medical and school supplies and contribute to the Darapap Women’s Co-operative Society. These women don’t need saving, they need support to do it

Project update June 2024

Latest Update on the Darapap Community Garden Project Overview
Challenges and Progress:

Impact of Climate Change: Rising sea levels and increased water salinity due to climate change are impacting local food and water resources, particularly affecting women who are key to managing these resources.

Geographical and Environmental Factors: Darapap Village is located on narrow sandbanks with challenging environmental conditions, including heavy rainfall, erosion, and sea water contamination. These factors have complicated the construction of the garden.

Recent Setbacks: The earthquake on March 25, 2024, caused damage that required a reassessment of the project’s infrastructure. New posts are being installed to ensure the garden remains above the high water line, causing some delays.

Water Supply Issues: There is no fresh running water in Darapap Village, necessitating long travels to obtain water for personal and agricultural use. This challenge is being addressed as part of the project’s broader objectives.

Community Involvement: The project is a collaborative effort involving the local community, with ongoing work demonstrating the villagers' commitment to realizing the benefits of the Community Garden.

This overview highlights the project's objectives, challenges, and the positive impact it is expected to have on the Darapap Village community.

Progress and benefits 

The completed platform combined with other initiatives will increase the capacity for food production from 50 to 70% . 

The women are excited that the proceeds from the sale of food grown in the community garden will go to the Darapap Women’s Co-operative Society, the society has its own committee which funds projects, benefiting the whole village.  Women growing their own food will also generate income from the sale of excess produce,  the women have an agreement to contribute 50 cents out of every $2 earned from the sale of their own excess food grown to the cooperative.

"The women are excited that they will have extra income to pay for schooling, medical supplies, transport costs, and other household expenses. "

The men have become involved in collecting the timber to be used for the pylons, preparing and erecting them. 

 

Men collecting timber for the pylons

Men collecting timber for the pylons

Men arriving back to the village with the pylons

Men being paid for their work

Village meeting to discuss progress

Men collecting water

Plants planted out for food

Women learning to plant seedlings

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Written by SISEAP WebDev on . Posted in Federation Project 2021-2024.

Congratulations to Soroptimist International Rangatahi Wellington, who are the successful winners of Round 5 of the Brilliant Futures Fund with their Ovarian Cancer Awareness Project

The project will directly address the issues of Ovarian Cancer, by raising awareness of ovarian cancer, its symptoms, and risk factors, aligning with SISEAP's commitment to women's health.
SISEAP's mission to educate, empower and enable is carried out in this project. We will educate by spreading critical knowledge about ovarian cancer, enabling informed choices. By providing comprehensive yet user-friendly resources, we will enable women to take charge of their health and well-being. Furthermore, we will empower women and communities to support affected individuals and advocate for change in the face of this devastating disease in partnership with an ovarian cancer charity. This project not only reflects
SISEAP's vision and mission but also embodies the organisation's dedication to being a voice for women

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Written by SISEAP WebDev on . Posted in Federation Project 2021-2024.

SI Hornsby in partnership with Afghan Women on the Move and Host International will provide migrant women in Sydney with skills in sewing, financial literacy and English language to increase economic independence and social contact within their own and other communities. This will help the women move from a ‘Survive to Thrive’. This project will run for 20 weeks and provide up to 30 women with new skills and a pathway to financial independence..

Update on Project

SI Hornsby’s project ‘Stitching Dreams – Connecting Communities” received a grant from the Federation Brilliant Futures Fund earlier this year. It was launched In February and began operating in early May. Members of SI Hornsby, in partnership with HOST International and Afghan Women on the Move, and with the help of 2 members of SI The Hills and several other volunteers, meet weekly in the Salvation Army hall in Blacktown, western Sydney, where more than twenty participants are registered.

There immigrant women from a numerous countries (Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Pakistan, India, Sudan, Indonesia and the Philippines) are taught machine sewing with a view to setting up businesses to sell their products, with talks on financial literacy and business skills, mental health and well-being. Club members with training in English as a Second Language (ESL) provide conversational English, and members with current Working with Children checks provide child minding for pre-schoolers.  We also provide a delicious morning tea for the women and their children. We have occasional feed-back sessions  with interpreters on what the women are gaining and what we could do better. Their enthusiasm for the project, for the friendships being forged and for what they are learning gives us great joy.

There is a group of fourteen volunteers who attend regularly in various roles.  After 18 sessions so far,  we calculate that  hours spent at the project amount to over 440, not including travelling time, as well as the hours of sewing prep, Zoom meetings and admin work done at home.

We are most grateful for the grant, for fundraising activities and for cash donations which have enabled us to buy sewing machines, fabric and sewing requirements. We’re also very grateful for donations from numerous people of sewing machines, overlockers, fabrics etc.

We plan to end the formal sessions for the project in November, and are working on the participants consolidating  their skills and passing them on to other immigrant women at regular meeting sessions.  Thus, the project   will continue in another form and become self-sustaining.

Anne Sheehan

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