• Develop projects together to eradicate extreme poverty
• Finance microcredits for small start-up companies
• Promote and preserve traditional artisans
• Encourage women to engage in all professions and to take on professional responsibilities

• Instruct by means of the cultural heritage
• Représentations to show the value of national traditions
• Training about Peace for young people
• Courses in foreign languages and information technology

• Provide information and support projects about drug abuse
• Support projects to decrease maternal and infant mortality; promote vaccination against childhood illnesses
• Programmes to prevent AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases
• Promote traditional and healthy foods as part of the cultural heritage and as a factor for Peace

• Invite people to enjoy nature:
• By a programme of communication
• By cleaning parks, lakes, rivers ...
• By planting trees where possible (Soroptimist forests?)
• Clean drinking water: create projects in cooperation with clubs in those locations where it is needed
• Promote renewable energy and economies in the use of energy

• Promote and defend human rights at all levels of society
• Create local groups to support victims of violence and human trafficking
• Set up an 'alert centre' for human trafficking in each country of SI/E
• Encourage training for women preparing to enter politics

• Become partners in local experiences and projects and share information about integration projects
• Set up exchange programmes for young people and trips for soroptimists to visit local heritage
• 'Open Heart - Open Door' programme
• Set up a professional network in the context of Friendship Links

List of visits 2006-2007                                    Goodwill project

Open Heart                                                          Form for Open Heart

Programmes and coordinators

• Bénédicte VAN DEN DAELE - LIEGE-EN-ISLE

Economic & social development  :

• Liliane SCHOEPEN - ANTWERPEN

Education & culture :

• Marlise BINDER - LAND VAN WAAS

Health :

• Anne LEMPEREUR - LIEGE

Environment :

• Nicole MAGEREN - OURTHE-AMBLEVE

Human rights / status of women :

• Christiane HOZAY - ANTWERPEN DE ZES ROZEN

Goodwill and international understanding  :

• Roselyne BRICHARD - CHARLEROI

Each of the 6 programmes presents different types of actions. It is better to have a big project (or two small ones) than to get lost in a myriad of small activities.

If possible, in order to comply with the SI spirit, give priority to Education - Culture and Human rights - status of women programmes.

It is essential to encourage as many members as possible to participate in the activities.  Giving a cheque to a good cause is great.  Participating actively in a project by giving up your time and professional expertise, using your contacts, is even better.

Way of working

The club coordinators will write clear and succinct Focus reports in French or, preferably, in English, documenting the activities of their clubs.  The reports must be sent to

• The relevant national coordinator
• Bénédicte VAN DEN DAELE - Programme Liaison coordinator.

The reports will be sent by the national coordinator to the SI/E Federation, who will pass them to SI.

Intellectual property - Responsibility - Data privacy