This project began in 2017 and each year SI Albany provides the support agencies require. This year there was again a call for more Kare Kits. This year we had some 60 collection points in the communities of Albany, Denmark and Mt Barker - businesses, government and non-government agencies, and school staff rooms. 

There is a steady core of about 50 participating entities and some new entities joining in. A list of required items is placed with each collection box. Prior to the Drive our collection boxes from 2024 were retrieved and refurbished and the distribution list was compiled. 176 Adult Kare Kits were compiled, containing shampoo, conditioner, body wash or soap, toothpaste and toothbrush, face washer or body scrubber, comb, sanitary packs, moisturiser, and deodorant. Children's items of toothbrushes, toothpaste, children’s shampoo and bodywash, school items (Backpacks, drink bottles, lunch boxes, exercise books, pen and pencil sets, pencil cases), books and toys were packed in separate bags so Albany Women’s Centre staff could issue items as required.

AWC staff worked with SI members to assemble the kits and AWC staff took all the kits as well as the all the extra items donated. These included tissues, children's and women's clothing, travel toiletry kits, bath packs, facial care masks, hand/nail/foot care items, hair ties, lip balm, make up, baby items, blankets, shower caps and commercial pamper packs were among the donation. SI Albany members distributed the boxes and collected when full and assembled the kits at an SI members home. AWCKK, SI Albany and Anglicare Facebook pages continue to engage and advertise the drive, with posters promoting the participating entities involvement at box drop off and collection. These Facebook pages also disseminate information about prevention of family violence and helplines. Regularly throughout the year people contact the page to give donations.  Soroptimists will pick up and deliver to Anglicare or the AWC. Those items not needed by the Albany Women's Centre were donated to Days for Girls (travel size soap), and Shalom House shelter for homeless men (men's toiletries and clothes). This year $1310 was raised through cash donation and direct bank transfer to the Kare Kits account held by Anglicare. $300 worth of local store vouchers was donated.

Soroptimists, Girls Guides and Day of the Girl Child actions.В  SI Port PirieВ have been engaging with Girl Guides for some years now as a way of celebrating theВ Day of the Girl Child.В Making kites and flying them is great fun! This was discovered by ten Crystal Brook Girl Guides aged from 6 to 12, their three leaders and four members of Soroptimist International of Port Pirie as they celebrated this special day at the Crystal Brook Guide Hall in October

Prior to the day, the guides decorated their blank kites with messages and pictures, advocating what girls should be able to do. The messages showed deep thought about the topic as well as empathy with their less fortunate peers throughout the world. For example: girls should be able to ”speak up, be loved, read, go to school, get a good education, decline forced marriage, have a flexible job, wear their choice of clothes, play sport, go to friends' houses to play”.

After constructing the kites from the kits with help from leaders and Soroptimists, the girls trooped out onto the nearby oval and launched them successfully. Despite a very threatening sky earlier in the day, the sun and breeze appeared just in time for the exercise.

Soroptimists Jenny Hughes, Heather Hunt and Bev Clarke and “Soroptimister” Rooka Ramsay enjoyed the afternoon as much as the girl guides! Back in the hall they discussed how to display their kites to others in the town, namely a display in a Crystal Brook shop window and at the local Primary School assembly. Group Leader Lorraine Saunders commented that “the whole exercise was very worthwhile” and “it was a great event”,  sentiments shared by the Soroptimists, who hope to carry out other activities with the Girl Guides. Both groups follow the UN 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development.     

Soroptimists in FIji reducing the death rate of women with breast cancer,В  Fiji rates no 2 in the world for breast cancer related deaths. 10 Fijian Soroptimist Clubs, have collaborated with the Fijian Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation for Pinktober.В  Each Club will be runningВ breast screening and awareness campaigns.В The launch function was held at the Nalagi Resort Hotel. Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Rosa Akbar addressed the event, with a stern message to not fall for traditional medicine, stating that her mission was to educate every household every woman and girl and every man about breast cancer. The summary can be foundВ HERE.

Launch of Pinktober -В Past Federation President Suman Lal and National President Fiji Anita Prasad, along with members of Soroptimist Fiji and the Fijian Ministry of Women, launched Pinktober month campaign.В  В 
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SI Suva, reported theirВ partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Fiji Sports Council,В  so the large crowd of men and women attending the HFC National stadium during the IDC tournament (this is the amateur Fijian football cup tournament) could become aware of breast and cervical cancer. They providedВ free mammogramsВ by the medical team from MOH on the REACH Bus.В В 

You can view the video, from one of the women who did the breast screeningВ HERE.