International Day of Education 2025 – SIGBI

SIGBI offers numerous avenues to support women and girls in achieving their lifelong learning goals.

The Diamond Education Grant

This grant initially called the Golden Jubille Fellowship was started in 1972. It is open for any non Soroptimist woman from any country within SIGBI Federation to apply. The money is raised through donations and fee payments from UK members.

In 2023-2024 the charity gave out grants of £28,000 and has enabled 26 women aged from 27 years to 61 years to undertake further education, pursue new career paths or gain relevant qualifications in their chosen professions. The grants covered course fees, equipment, supervision and materials. The subjects varied from STEM based activities, health related, technology and pure sciences to finance, film and media studies, human resources, art and fashion. Many of the courses will enable the women to work in fields where they can continue to help other women and girls. This year the applications were all from women living in the UK.

The second way SIGBI is helping women is by the funding through Lend with Care and Kiva by donations. Although most of the loans go to women entrepreneurs to help run their businesses, including sewing, farming, fishing and grocery stores, many of the recipients also receive training and business help through the local development partners in their countries. This being an additional benefit to the women concerned.

Finally, Soroptimists across the Federation also undertake work with their local communities. Many Clubs have run literacy, financial literacy, English, sewing and cookery courses for the most vulnerable members of their societies.

Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland

Federation projects

Financial literacy: SI Leh (India)

The Soroptimists in SI Club Leh ran classes in 2021 helped a group of women aged 27-65 in Pyang to carry ...

SIGBI, SI Yorkshire Region – Sewing and Crafting

SI Yorkshire region Clubs have supported a project in HMP/YOI Askham Grange, an open prison which improves the facilities and equipment in a craft room to help prisoners be more creative.

SIGBI, SI Lisburn and District (Northern Ireland) – Cooking

In 2018 President Beverly McClean identified further need within the local Foodbank, cooking classes and she trained to become a tutor. The Club then raised £1000 to provide 13 cookery stations for the Foodbank Cookery School, which she established and clients were invited to attend sessions participating in easy cooking tasks using donated items from the Foodbank. Beverly continues to provide tuition at the Foodbank and during Covid-19 made several videos so that clients can access them online.

SIGBI, SI Rhyl and District (Wales) – Cooking

SI Rhyl and District organised and delivered ‘ one-pot’ cookery courses (4.5 hours per week) over five weeks during November and December 2023 for eight women at the North Wales Women’s Centre. This initiative also offered hot meals to women at the centre,who were participating in other courses, seeking advice, or attending rehabilitation sessions for issues such as domestic abuse or minor criminal offenses.

SIGBI, SI Dunfermline (Scotland) – Cooking

The members of the Club invited local Syrian refugees for a cookery evening to teach them some Scottish recipes and help them with making connections to the local community.

SIGBI, SI Canterbury (England) – Cooking

SI Club Canterbury has been working with the RISING SUN refuge and the staff who work there. One club member worked with the refuge staff to run a pizza making master class. Recipients of this support are learning to cook healthy meals, which helps them in living independently.

SIGBI, SI Cockermouth (England) with SI Kathmandu (Nepal) – Sewing and Crafting

Both Clubs aimed to raise £3,500 to allow RUWON (Rural Women’s Network Nepal) to run a third Sewing and Tailoring Course.

SIGBI, SI St Vincent and the Grenadines and SI San Fernando (Caribbean) – Sewing and Crafting

SI Club St. Vincent partnered with the Barrouallie Technical Institute and SI Club San Fernando to launch a sewing project geared towards women on the Leeward side of the Island who were affected by the volcanic eruption in 2021.

SIGBI, SI Chester (England) – Sewing and Crafting

SI Club Chester obtained fabrics that were destined for landfill disposal and donations of fabric from other sources. A member of the Club sourced three free sewing machines. These were serviced, electrically (PAT) tested and donated to Tomorrow’s Women Chester (TWC)

SIGBI, SI Manchester (England) – Sewing and Crafting:

SI Club Manchester has helped to enable residents of Manchester Women’s Aid refuges to learn a skill which is useful to them on a personal basis but also has the potential to provide a livelihood.

SIGBI, SI Chaguanas Trinidad and Tobago (Caribbean) – Professional Leadership Skills Training

SI Club Chaguanas Trinidad and Tobago has provided professional young women with hands on training in leadership skills.

SIGBI, SI Bombay Chembur (India) – Digital Skills

A Computer Literacy and Skills class was held for women living in severely economically deprived communities in Mumbai. Most of these women are dropouts at school level and have never undertaken technology training. A three week basic computer course was held where the women were taught MS Office, usage of the internet and how to avoid cyber crime.

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