What do we do ?

Programmes | Projects | Scholarship

Our motivation In line with the international programmes, projects are initiated at international, European, national and local levels, following the same principles : understand – defend - undertake

Projects at the national level - Belgian Union Water and Climate (National Focus for 2008-2010) Stop-Fistula Hougoumont Chapel Linguistic Exchange for Young People Organ Donation SI et SIE Projects SI : Women Survivors of War SI-Day : International Human Rights Day SI : SIerra - A Family and a Future SIE : Soroptimists go for water SIE : Women Building Peace through Local Heritage Unesco FIVE-O

Projects at the national level - Belgian Union

	SIB national project 2008 - 2010           Water en Climate Project   Stop-Fistula     Hougoumont Chapel Project Restoration of the Chapel of Hougoumont Farm On 18 June 1815 the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo changed the destiny of Europe.  Hougoumont Farm was the site of bloody combats that lasted for more than four hours and where several British regiments distinguished themselves, as well as French divisions under the command of Jérôme Bonaparte, the Hanoverian regiments and the troops led by the Prince of Nassau. The soroptimists of the Val Brabant club, with the help of other soroptimist clubs in Belgium and abroad, intend to participate in the restoration of the chapel of Hougoumont Farm.  This little chapel, witness to the drama which involved so many European countries, will in future have a cultural role, will be a place of respect,  a memory of the past, a Sanctuary for Peace. This restoration fits perfectly into the context of the quadrennial project  'Women for Peace' and into the UNESCO campaign 'Heritage for Peace', which is the theme our European President of Soroptimist International,  Monique Riviere,  echoes in her European project, 'Building Peace through Local Heritage'. The recognition and media attention resulting from this restoration supported by the Soroptimists would enhance our image worldwide. Tourists from all over the world visit this historic site,  and Hougoumont Farm,  with its international reputation, is one of the high points of their visit to the battlefield.  The restoration of the Chapel would thus become a visible and concrete symbol of Soroptimists' involvement in safeguarding peace in the world.   The project Hougoumont has been awarded the best project Patrimony of SI/ E on Friday February 15, 2008 . SlideShow Inauguration of the Chapel on Friday October 10th    Art exhibition in 2008 ‘A golden book for the planet’                                                           Information In parallel with the sponsored reading project of Myriam Vleminckx, Vice President NL, SIB, we are organising an exhibition of our soroptimist artists and also with children and children’s art studios.  The exhibition will be held in Brussels on 21 June 2008. Thme: « A better planet … » « What would the world be like if I were in charge » Inspiration from books and the environment if possible The rules and enrolment form will be sent by email to all soroptimist presidents and artists in Belgium.  They will also be available on the SIB website. Each soroptimist artist can exhibit a maximum of 2 works One work by a child (or group of children) can be presented by each artist or club Each club can present one work by a child (or group of children) even if there is no soroptimist artist (good idea from Charleroi club : bravo !) Our Friendship Links are also invited to participate Objectives To make young people and our members aware of the problems of the environment Transmit knowledge to children by working with them on this project Create together and strengthen the Friendship Links The national coordinators for Education – Culture and Environment will work together on a national project. Unite the coordinators of different programmes : Environment: an action for clean water (with the funds raised by selling greetings cards designed by children who participate, support a project for the environment) Education: the artists or the clubs accompany and assist the children to produce a high quality work of art Goodwill: we contact our Friendship Linksand invite them to participate in the project The SIB club coordinators participate and help to organise the final event for the sponsored reading project Human Rights: a clean planet, pure water are part of human rights and children’s rights Health:  and improve health Economy – soc. : and contribute to a better socio-economic situation Organise the exhibition several times in 2008 in various locations Alert the press And enhance the visibility of SI while meeting the objectives of SI/E and SI Marlise Binder SIB Education and Culture Coordinator Nicole van Axx SIB Environment Coordinator Enrolment form                                                                               Linguistic exchange for young people Do you want your child to learn Dutch with no problems, while playing ?  Do you believe that the knowledge of foreign languages is enriching and a major advantage in the job market later? If so, enrol your child for a linguistic exchange with a child of the same age in Flanders or The Netherlands. Fill in the questionnaire below and send it via email or post to your Goodwill coordinator : Roselyne Brichard Mother :                                     Child : Name :                                                                              Name: Club :                                                                                Sex and age: Address:                                                                            Hobbies and interests:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Observation of the Organ Donation project in secondary education For Soroptimists, organ donation is still in the news and is a theme to work with, since we have available teaching materials for the 5th and 6th years of secondary education and ‘Tim’s book’ for the first two years of primary education. It would please the team which continues to support this project with great feeling and enthusiasm if, in each Belgian province (in both education systems) clubs made contact with secondary school heads and / or inspector in the subjects of Biology, Religion, Ethics. It has worked well in Easter Flanders, why not in the other provinces ? Information, documentation and teaching materials can be obtained via Marlise Binder, coordinator Education – Culture.  See also the Land van Waas website.)                                                                                                                                      Principal projects of SI and SI/E As well as the SIB and club projects, there are also SI and SI/E projects in which clubs are invited to participate by means of activities and financial contributions. SI : Project Independence               Women Survivors of War               2003 - 2007               www.soroptimisteurope.org/pages/news/ind_broch_2006.pdf SI : SIerra : A Family and a Future              Our new Quadrennial Project (2007-2011), Project SIerra: a Family and a Future, was launched at Convention in July 2007. The project will support women caring for children in extreme poverty and provide a caring secure family home for children who are alone or at risk of abandonment. http://www.soroptimistinternational.org/html/quadrennial_project.html http://www.projectsierra.org/ en http://www.projectsierra.org/resources.html   SIE : Soroptimists go for water               Mariet Verhoef-Cohen, President SIE               2007 - 2007 Photos : Renée Brunsting SI club Apeldoorn http://www.soroptimistsgoforwater.nl/SoroptimistsgoforWater/tabid/89/Default.aspx?language=en www.soroptimistsgoforwater.nl Digital Newsletter - Decembre 2007 SIE : Women building Peace through local heritage               Monique Rivière, President SIE               2005 - 2007             www.soroptimisteurope.org/pages/news/proj-leaflet-f.pdf SI-Day : 10 DECEMBER 2006              International Human Rights Day International President'sAppeal UNESCO : Programme 2001 - 2010               A décade for a culture of Peace and non-violence for children FIVE-O               A group of five women’s associations that have chosen to work on a common project (Five Women’s NGO): Council of Women International Federation of Business & Professional Women International Federation of University Women Soroptimist International Zonta               www.soroptimistinternational.org/html/project_five-o.htm    Letter Project Five-O October 2007 (E. Lagasse) In Belgium Marguerite Mormal (Club Bruxelles Sablon) represents SIB at FIVE-O meetings. Intellectual property - Responsibility - Data privacy