Soroptimist Celebrates International Women's Day
Every year, March 8 marks the global celebration of International Women’s Day, a holiday which commemorates the achievements of women and spotlights the important work being done to advance gender equality.
Since the early 1900’s when it was created to raise awareness for women’s suffrage, International Women’s Day has grown to include a range of women’s rights issues—such as challenging gender bias, ending violence against women, representation in the workplace, and the economic empowerment of women and girls. This year, the United Nations has declared the focus of International Women’s Day to be “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.”
For almost as long as International Women’s Day has existed, Soroptimists around the world have generously devoted their time, talents, and resources to helping women and girls thrive. Today, Soroptimist International of the Americas, Inc. (SIA) and its nearly 30,000 volunteer members focus on empowerment through education.
By supporting women and girls’ educational goals and removing the obstacles they face (such as domestic abuse, poverty, and lack of mentorship), Soroptimists are shaping a future where women and girls have the agency, confidence, and skills necessary to reach their fullest potential.
That’s why International Women’s Day is such a meaningful time of year for SIA. Even though our organization focuses on women every day, March 8 invites us to celebrate our victories and dream of an even more brilliant future.
The more women and girls we serve, the more our impact ripples out to create waves of change. With education and training, the women and girls we serve are empowered to make the best decisions for themselves and contribute positively to their communities.
Many of the women and girls in SIA’s programs go on to work in serving professions like healthcare, education, and social work. Take, for example, Kimberly, a Live Your Dream Awards recipient from the U.S. who now works to provide services to low-income families with young children. Or Nourhan, a girl in Canada whose ambition is to become a gynecologist and advance women’s rights in healthcare. Or Yukiko, from Japan, who provides in-home care for people with severe disabilities. Or Rhea, in the Philippines, who is creating a program to aid vulnerable children on the streets and give them access to education, shelter, food, and water.
Each of these women and girls is a powerful example of the transformative impact of Soroptimist’s mission. If we continue to find new ways to expand our program impact, elevate our volunteers’ efforts, and cultivate new members and supporters for our cause, there is no doubt we can achieve our Big Goal of reaching half a million more women and girls over the next 9 years!
This March 8, 2022, Soroptimist around the globe will observe International Women’s Day with special events, fundraisers, and projects. Together, we will rally behind the idea that unites and motivates us: that every woman and girl is worthy of the chance to live her dreams.
SIA thanks every one of its members, leaders, and supporters for their selfless and unwavering efforts to transform the lives of women and girls. We wish you all a Happy International Women’s Day 2022!