With 21 committed and enthusiastic members, the first club to meet virtually from the beginning has been inaugurated, SI Club Suzanne Noël (France). The inauguration was online on 10 December 2020 by Carolien Demey, SIE President-elect 2021-2023, and Françoise Lathuille, SIE Vice-President in charge of eClubs. The ceremony was chaired by Bernadette Schmitt, President of SI France. The members of the new club reside throughout France, but also temporarily abroad for their studies. Everything had been thought of to make this ceremony convivial, festive, and international. Neither the name nor the inauguration date of the club was left to chance:
– The name is a tribute to the founder of Soroptimist International of Europe in 1924, Suzanne Noël. The end of the year 2020 has seen many press articles, television programmes, paintings, and comics referring to this pioneer of plastic surgery, at a time when the studies of young girls were not a priority. Throughout her life and as a Soroptimist, she tirelessly led a feminist struggle all over the world.
– The date of the inauguration coincides with the day of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the founding text of a common ideal to be achieved addressing the essential themes of freedom, equality, education, and respect. It is also the date chosen for “SI Day”, Soroptimist International President’s Appeal, on the theme: “The Road to Equality” for the 2019/21 mandate.
Let us celebrate this launch! 2021 will see the chartering of more clubs which will enrich our organisation and bring the much-needed membership. We are going through a period that has enabled our organization to be innovative, curious and more agile in order to continue to do what makes us Soroptimist.
By allowing women who are interested in our projects and share our values to join our organisation it gives, regardless of their place of residence, a more inclusive club format. The first examples already show the benefits and richness of this concept, which will allow us to start a new Soroptimist century with more active forces to defend the status of women.
Hear from the new members below:
What made you want to join Soroptimist International?
Soroptimist International is a recognised and structured international association that promotes mutual support between women and works for their cause. Soroptimist is also interested in sustainable development and food health. Women are placed at the centre of international interests, thanks in particular to its consultative status at the United Nations ECOSOC. We find ourselves in the values we stand for: helping by contributing our experience.
In what area would you like to make a difference?
In the orientation of girls towards scientific professions to help them dare; in the development of leadership throughout their lives; in communication and video production; in education and health, which are at the heart of the promotion of women and their emancipation; in the organisation of online conferences on the themes of parenthood, early childhood, preparation for exams; in support and information on certain pathologies that are kept under wraps; in the fight against violence against women; in the provision of our professional expertise.
What do you expect from this commitment?
First of all, to provide our help, then to experiment with the principle of sisterhood in benevolence and empathy, but also to change mentalities on certain subjects and to raise awareness among the youngest members of society. We would like to evolve in multidisciplinarity and multiculturalism in order to contribute to greater open-mindedness, tolerance and respect. Working on education is an essential weapon in the face of obscurantism.
Being part of a club that meets virtually, why?
It allows you to optimise your time in a busy daily life. It is also a facilitator to raise awareness among the youngest with a mode of communication that is familiar to them. There is also the absence of physical clubs that are geographically close.
Meet all the members on SI Club Suzanne Noël Facebook page by clicking here.