Federation Wide Creative Arts Competition commences on the 1st of February.  The expanded competition this year also incorporates Poetry and Photography.  This Federation wide competition is open to students from age 6 to 18.  The Creative Arts competition will enable students through visual arts to amplify their voice for change.  

Toolkit and more information is available HERE. This Federation wide competition is open to students from age 6 to 18.

The Creative Arts competition will enable students through visual arts to amplify their voice for change.  

How can you be involved in this exciting Creative Arts Competition.

Are you aged between 8-18

You can submit art work in 3 mediums

To submit your artwork, please contact swpasstprogramme12020@siswp.org,  to arrange either postage of your work or a link to download your entry.  All entries must be received prior to the 20 May for inclusion in the judging. 

Also please complete this entry form to be included with your entry.   document Entry Form  (228 KB)

Get involved! Give students a voice and partnership with schools in your community.

Round 6 Announcement we have 2 winners.

Congragulations to Soroptimist International Morton North for the proposed Murik Lakes Seeds of Friendship Community Garden Project 

and

Congratulations to Soroptimist International Joondalup for their proposed East Timor '24 project.

The Murik Lakes Seeds of Friendship Community Garden Project will provide opportunities to Educate, Empower and Enable the women and girls to plan for their future, allows for their economic growth and opens doors to their dreams, by teaching them to grow food, providing them with materials (seeds, fertiliser etc.) to build and grow sustainable vegetable gardens. 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.

The East Timor '24 Project The aim of this project is to bring two qualified professional young women from Dili in Eat Timor, Pascoela Bareta and Maria Guterres , to Perth 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. 

Image below of the Xanana Gusmao Reading Room, managed by Maria.

Why Soroptimists support and care about advocating during the 16 days of Activism.

The 16 Days is an annual international campaign that begins on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day.

During this time the voices of Soroptimists are amplified as we call for action against the persistent violence against women and girls, which is a violation of their human rights.

 We know the statistics, they have not changed for decades, , we have all heard that this violence is committed against women on the basis of  orientation, gender identity or sex characteristics,  women and girls are especially at risk of violence during conflict, where sexual violence becomes a weapon of war.

 The UN’s theme for 2023 is “UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls,”  the UN site states “The COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts and climate change have exacerbated the risks for this violence and generated new threats, amplifying the vulnerability of women and girls.”

This year, the 5 Federations have joined to have a united theme for the 16 Days, this theme is “Wired for Change”.  Techs impact on gender based abuse.  Wired for Change looks at the impact that technology has had in shaping gender-based abuse and violence; how it has been a force for bad but also how it has impacted the world positively.

 Soroptimist involvement in providing services on a local level in our communities cannot be understated.  Throughout the year your personal and soroptimist commitment ensures the conversation is kept current, your advocacy and actions create opportunities for women’s empowerment.  During the 16 Days, these actions are heighten as we UNITE to amplify our voices for the change we desire a world free from violence in all its forms.

 Use the media and toolkits provided from Soroptimist International and our own Federation to show your support to ending Violence against Women.   

Christine Johnstone
President 2022-2024