A Beenleigh group that helps local women and girls has been recognised by an international group with ties to the United Nations.
The local Soroptimist women’s group, which is part of the organisation’s Western Pacific network, received plaudits for its work in three areas:
Domestic violence awareness – a 16-day project that culminated in the installation of a purple bench seat in front of the Beenleigh Courthouse which has contact details for assistance groups, with similar sites planned for Eagleby and Slacks Creek.
When the Beenleigh seat was unveiled in the Beenleigh Town Square last November a silent vigil was held to ensure that efforts to end domestic and family violence do not go unnoticed.
A Wellness Day which focused on ways to combat mental health, depression and anxiety among women in the region as well as addressing problems brought on by Covid-19.
Drought and bushfire assistance, where essential school stationery supplies, personal health hygiene items were donated to six rural schools around Warwick, where families were affected by drought and bushfires.
Each project undertaken by the Beenleigh group is sent to an international database that involves the UN, where projects are assessed to ascertain if they are worthy of recognition awards.
Founded in 1921 in California, Soroptimist International is a global volunteer movement with a network of 72,000 club members in 121 countries.
Advocating for human rights and gender equality, at the heart of the group’s advocacy is its work across eight UN Centres where its UN representatives ensure that the voices of women and girls are heard.
The organisation’s members work on grassroots projects that help women and girls achieve their individual and collective potential, realise aspirations and have an equal voice in communities worldwide.
The Beenleigh group provides funding for several art therapy workshops throughout the year which provide children and mothers with a way to work through their mental and emotional issues with a trained counsellor, which helps in the healing process.
The group provides personal hygiene packs to schools in the Beenleigh District which enable female high school students to attend school with dignity.
Disadvantaged students cannot afford menstrual pads or tampons and the supply of those items provides students with the knowledge they can concentrate on school and not on making excuses about why they are not at school.
Contact sibeenleigh@siswp.org.
