Our Club - Palm Desert
The majority of Soroptimist's work to improve the lives of women and girls is done at the local club level. Clubs assess the needs of their communities and then undertake projects that will best fill those needs. Soroptimist clubs receive assistance in their volunteer efforts by participating locally in programs developed and sponsored by the Soroptimist organization. In addition, clubs work on other projects specific to their communities, such as educating women about health risks, providing skills-training to low-income women, and raising awareness about issues that affect women and girls. Communities rely on Soroptimist clubs to provide direct assistance to women and girls who might otherwise not receive the help they need.
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  Region  -  Golden West Region
  "Saturday of Service" - This volunteer effort began in this region and has now been adopted world wide.  Local Soroptimist clubs select a project for one Saturday in March.  In 2006 .......

  Federation  - Soroptimist International of the Americas

Making a Difference for Women Club Grants Program - Soroptimist Club Grants for Women and Girls
 

Soroptimists work to improve the lives of women and girls in their communities and throughout the world. Often the abilities and ambitions of clubs exceed their financial resources. To help clubs meet community need, Soroptimist introduced the Soroptimist Club Grants for Women and Girls in 1997 to assist with community service projects that improve the lives of women and girls. The Soroptimist organization funds about $175,000 each year in Soroptimist Club Grants. Since the program’s inception, nearly $1.4 million has been awarded and clubs have assisted more than 100,000 women and their families. Recent projects include providing resources for immigrant women fleeing domestic violence; funding a micro-enterprise artisan project for low-income women; providing reproductive health services for women in poverty; and teaching marketable job skills to girls with disabilities. The program is the recipient of an Award of Excellence from the American Society of Association Executives’ Associations Advance America designation
Soroptimist Workplace Campaign to End Domestic Violence
 

In 1994, Soroptimist International of the Americas made the prevention of domestic violence an organizational focus. Each year, on November 25 (the International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women), members participate in the Soroptimist Workplace Campaign to End Domestic Violence. The campaign targets domestic abuse as a workplace concern. Domestic violence is a workplace issue because it affects both women and business, as most women work and they do not leave abuse behind when they leave their homes. Abusers often harass their partners at work. In worse case scenarios, abusers come to the workplace and threaten their partners and their co-workers. As business and professional women, Soroptimists are in a position to educate people in the workplace that women have the right to live free from violence. Each year, Soroptimists distribute thousands of hotline cards, and hold lectures and events to raise awareness about domestic violence as a workplace concern. The campaign earned an Award of Excellence from the American Society of Association Executives and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s Allies Against Violence Award.
To read more about Women's Human Rights go to:http://hrw.org/women/
Disaster Relief Fund for Women and Girls
 

Soroptimist’s Disaster Relief Fund for Women and Girls targets the special needs of women and girls during natural and man-made disasters. Women and girls are particularly vulnerable during disasters and lack access to resources. They also have special abilities to respond to disasters, which is often overlooked. Soroptimist’s disaster relief program mitigates the barriers facing women/girls during disasters. In addition, the program honors the commitments made by the United Nations in the Beijing Platform for Action and the Outcome Statement of the 46th Session on the Commission on the Status of Women. Soroptimist grants funds to local clubs for use in communities needing disaster relief. Funds are pooled from voluntary contributions sent in from Soroptimist members throughout the world. Soroptimist recently disbursed disaster relief grants to: the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to support Iraqi educational programs for returning women refugees; the Ramona, California, Soroptimist club to help women recovering from the fires in Southern California; and women in El Chaco, Ecuador, to help rebuild the community’s farming infrastructure following an earthquake.

To view our Soroptimist Mission and Goals - Link Here

To learn more about Soroptimist involvement in the United Nations Platform for Action - Link Here
  Soroptimist International Projects

Soroptimist International is worldwide organization for women in management and professions, working through service projects to advance human rights and the status of women. Please visit: www.soroptimistinternational.org
Working for global change
Soroptimist International's relationship with the UN is based on the belief that real and positive change can be achieved incrementally, if we are really determined and willing to work together with other organizations and authorities.
International relations and Soroptimist International an honored NGO........  

The organization has General Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council, (ECOSOC) and has representatives at many meetings of its agencies and organs in UN Centers throughout the world.

SI delegations to major UN meetings and forums advocate for policies and actions which support our aims and objects and reflect agreed position statements on the issues under discussion.

"Project Independence"
2003–2007 Soroptimist International Quadrennial Project
 Women Survivors of War

Sponsor a Woman Today

Project Independence provides direct aid to women in war-torn countries such as Afghanistan, Bosnia and Rwanda and helps them meet basic needs for themselves and their families. The program provides women survivors of war and civil strife with tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty into a civil society that promotes and protects peace, stability and self-sufficiency.   Please visit www.

In partnership with Women for Women

Working in  Afghanistan - Bosnia - Rwanda
In Afghanistan, women have endured unimaginable hardships in a 23 year war. The Taliban demeaned women with repressive laws, public humiliation and beatings, and denial of basic dignity and human rights
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, mass rape, women's concentration camps, forced impregnation, forced prostitution and sexual slavery were weapons of war.
In Rwanda, an estimated 500,000 women and girls - some as young as 5 - were systematically tortured, physically abused, and raped during the genocide.
Fundraising by Soroptimists is on the rise!   We are half the way through the Project and almost $500,000 USD toward our
$1.2 million USD has now been donated. Donations for this project can be made through SI of Palm Desert.

"Soroptimist Stamp Out Malaria"
Soroptimist International President's Appeal

Shielding women and young children from malaria in Ze´, Benin, Africa

In partnership with the Roll Back Malaria Department  of the World Health Organization (WHO
The Need: 
  40% of the world's population is threatened by malaria.
  350 - 500 million cases occur every year resulting in one million deaths, mostly among children under five years of age living in sub Saharan Africa.
  10,000 pregnant women and 200,000 infants die every year as a result of malaria during pregnancy.
  350 - 500 million cases occur every year resulting in one million deaths, mostly among children under five years of age living in sub Saharan Africa.
The Project:
  To distribute insecticide-treated mosquito nets to Zé's pregnant women and families with young children, and educate the families of prevention and treatment.
  Donations for this project can be made through SI of Palm Desert.

Please visit: www.soroptimistinternational.org for more information.

Project Five-O

Project Five O is a partnership of five international women's organizations.

 Project Five-O is celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2005

The International Council of Women (ICW) 
The International Federation of Business and Professional Women (IFBPW)
The International Federation of University Women 
Soroptimist International
Zonta International

The Project Aim:  To help women in poor economic circumstances in developing countries by training them to acquire the necessary income-generating skills to alleviate poverty and improve their status.
Methods:   Women are helped through the establishment of training centers teaching vocational skills, marketing, small business operations, health care, education and nutrition. Projects are aimed to become self-sustaining after five years.

Please visit: www.soroptimistinternational.org for more information.
If you are interested in becoming a member of this vital organization for women, please e-mail here.