Soroptimist International President's Appeal

Each year, SI of Pasco-Kennewick supports the President's Appeal. This year we will be sending $130 to Soroptimist International in support of the following cause:

From the Soroptimist International website:

Every year, on Human Rights Day (December 10) the President of Soroptimist International selects a project that provides direct assistance to women in extreme need. Past projects have provided: aid for refugees in camps in Malaysia; protection and help for women AIDS sufferers in Uganda and the Ukraine; scholarships for girls in Mongolia and Rwanda; vocational training programmes and shelter for vulnerable women and children in Paraguay; education and nutrition for abandoned children in Vietnam; malaria protection for pregnant women and young children in Benin, West Africa; enhanced access to education for girls in impoverished areas of Pakistan and support for long term patients at the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia.

President's Appeal 2009

'Hopes and Dreams for Everyone'
Prevent human trafficking from Moldova by providing life-skill education and sustainable living conditions for vulnerable children.

For the 2009 Appeal, President Hanne Jensbo has chosen to adopt a highly successful anti-trafficking project run by the SI Union of Norway with SI clubs in Moldova for the last 4 years. Further funding is urgently needed for the project to continue.


The Need
Moldova is small republic with a population of only 3.5 million, bordered by Romania and the Ukraine. It remains one of the poorest countries in Europe despite recent slight progress in its economy. 2005 statistics showed that 29.5% of the population lived below the poverty line.

Largely owing to poverty, Moldova is a major source and, to a lesser extent, a transit country for women and girls trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; Moldovan women are trafficked to the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Western Europe; girls and young women are trafficked within the country from rural areas to Chisinau; children are also trafficked to neighbouring countries for forced labour and begging.

Young girls living in boarding schools are particularly exposed to the dangers of trafficking. Some are there because their parents are among the half million Moldavians who have gone abroad to find work. By the age of 16 they have left school, have no support and often, nowhere to live.


Project Aim

To work with 4 of the 68 boarding schools in Moldova to help:
Girls aged between 13 and 16 while they are in school
Girls aged between 16 and 18 after they have left school
Further – to support victims of trafficking who have managed to go back to their home country and need support to return to a normal life.

Project Activities
Life skill education programme, including career guidance, health care, dealing with violence at home, communication with public offices.
Higher education support programme: career counselling, housing allowances during education, mentoring and support from social assistants.


Project Partners
International Organization for Migration (IOM), the leading inter-governmental migration organization, working in Moldova since 2001.
The Child Rights Information Center (CRIC) Moldova. The mission of this well-established NGO is to contribute to the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in Moldova.

For a printable brochure and more information, click here: http://www.soroptimistinternational.org/PresidentsAppeal09.pdf

SIPK Awards Information

SIPK is currently accepting applications for the following awards.

Ruby Award: The Soroptimist Ruby Award is designed to honor women working to improve the lives of women and girls through their personal, volunteer, or professional efforts. Although not Soroptimists, their work helps promote the issues that are important to Soroptimists and offers inspirational stories about how to make a difference in the lives of women and girls.

Examples of women who would qualify for this award would be one who helped to establish a domestic violence shelter, a woman who starts a mentoring program for at-risk girls, or a woman who lobbies her company to provide on-site childcare. This award program gives our clubs and our organization the opportunity to say “thank you,” and encourages others to explore ways to assist women and girls. Winners at the club level are eligible for a region award and the region winner has the opportunity to be selected to receive a $5,000 donation to her favorite charitable organization. The application deadline is December 1, 2009.

Violet Richardson Award: This award is intended to honor girls for their volunteer service in the community. Girls between the ages of 14-17, who are actively involved in volunteer work, can apply for this award. The winner selected from the applications will receive an award in the amount of $400. Deadline for applications is December 1, 2009.

Women's Opportunity Award: The Women’s Opportunity Awards program, Soroptimist’s major service project, aids women seeking to improve their economic status by gaining additional skills, training and education. The program helps women who, as the primary wage earners for their families, must improve their employment status by entering or returning to the work force. Applicants for this award must be the head-of-household and also pursuing a degree. First place is $2,000, second place is $1,000. The deadline for applications is December 15, 2009. First place winners will be submitted to District for further consideration.

Pro-Tech Award: This award is for a woman who is working on a vocational certificate or degree from an accredited school. First place is $1,500, second place is $1,000. The deadline for applications is January 15, 2010.

Northwest Region Fellowship Award: This award supports women in the Northwestern Region who are returning to school for post-graduate study in an accredited college or university, leading to an advanced degree (master’s or doctorate). The award amount is $1,500. The application deadline is January 15, 2010.

Helen Cox Award: Named after our longtime member and supporter, Helen Cox, this award is unique to SIPK and is Helen's legacy to our club. Applicants for this award should be a junior or senior woman pursuing a degree in business or accounting. The award amount is $2,000. The application deadline is January 15, 2010.

Most applications are available in the financial aid offices of CBC and WSU-Tri-Cities. Or please contact the Awards chair or an SIPK member for emailable applications.

Fundraisers Fast Approaching!

We have two fundraisers scheduled for this month. On Monday, November 16th we are hosting a product sales party at 6:00 pm at the Tri-Cities Regional Business & Visitors Center conference room (7130 W Grandridge Blvd, Kennewick). Sales reps from Creative Memories (scrapbooking), Miche purses (the magnetic cover handbags), and Scentsy Candles will be there with displays and products available to order in time for the Holidays. The sales reps are generously donating a portion of their proceeds back to our club. So bring your friends and coworkers to this party, and support SIPK while getting your shopping done early!

On Friday and Saturday (November 20th and 21st) we are having a bake sale at GESA at 825 Goethals Dr., Richland. A signup sheet will be going around the next 2 Tuesdays for people to work the booth at GESA, but most importantly, we need everyone to start baking baking BAKING so we'll have product to sell! Baked goods should be wrapped and ready for sale by Thursday, 11/19. More details to come!