SI Penang's Girls in STEM" workshop was held on July 31 at a local girls school today. The project focuses on creating awareness in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics for the girls. A total of 80 students participated in today's program.
This project has reached more than 360 female students in the 12-14 age group since it first began 3 years ago. The project highlights the need to create employment opportunities in STEM to support the Penang State's future human resource in the technology industry.
They were very honored to have a panel of guest speakers from Micron Memory Group which gave the students a lot of ideas, advice and encouragement. The workshop also included a sharing segment of career pathways by young female engineers and interactive activities with representatives from Women Leadership Network and Employee Resource Group.
SI Penang will continue to develop this project to motivate more underprivileged girls from a young age to plan their career pathways and future
Many months in the making, SI Penang first met in early July 2022 to plan SI Penang’s main fundraiser of the year, the Soroptimist Christmas Fair 2022.
SI Penang Environment Sustainability Awareness Talk
As part of SI Penang’s commitment to promoting environmental sustainability the club set out to educate young people about environmental sustainable behaviours aiming to inspire them to be actively involved in the protection of oceans and the natural environment for their future.
After consulting with multiple councillor’s offices and numerous follow-up phone calls the club approached Sri Mutiara Secondary Girls School, Penang and obtained permission from the Education Department to coordinate, liaise with teachers at the school to develop an environment sustainability awareness talk to 54 secondary year school girls.
The session focused on the importance of beach cleaning and responsible waste arrangement, highlighting the devastating effects of litter and plastic pollution on oceans and marine life. Club members developed the programme content, including presentation materials, lesson syllabus, and interactive games.
From the drawings done by some students after the talk, the students understood their role as environment/ocean ambassadors, concept of “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle”, and no litter and improper disposal in the oceans.
SI Brisbane Water Supporting Women Living with Endometriosis
When Soroptimist International of Brisbane Water explored how our club could support SI Australia's health focus on endometriosis, we began by understanding the needs within our own community.
Our first step was to connect with the Central Coast Community Women's Health Centre, where we discovered exciting news. The Centre had recently been selected as one of the Australian Government's Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Centres, receiving ongoing funding to deliver a holistic model of care for women. Beyond managing pain, the Centre supports the many ways endometriosis can affect a woman's life—from education and employment to relationships and emotional wellbeing. Recognising the impact this service will have on local women, our club committed to supporting the Centre through a two-stage project.
The first stage focused on providing practical resources for women accessing the service. We funded patient education materials and equipment for the Centre's "Yoga for Endo" program by hosting a community High Tea attended by around 100 guests. Club members worked together to prepare delicious sweet and savoury treats, source vintage cups and saucers, decorate the venue and ensure the event ran smoothly from beginning to end.
Guests were inspired by presentations from the Centre's CEO, an endometriosis researcher, and two women who courageously shared their lived experiences. One spoke about the disruption to her education caused by chronic pain, while the other highlighted the importance of improving access to diagnosis and treatment through her advocacy work. Combined with a successful raffle, the event raised more than $5,000.
Building on this success, SI Brisbane Water secured a $10,000 grant to establish ongoing financial assistance for women experiencing financial hardship. Working in partnership with the Central Coast Community Women's Health Centre, the fund will help eligible women meet costs associated with their treatment, including specialist ultrasounds and travel to medical appointments. Referrals will be made by the Centre, with applications assessed by the club's committee.
This project reflects Soroptimist International's commitment to improving the lives of women and girls through practical, community-based action. By partnering with local health services, SI Brisbane Water is helping to ensure that women living with endometriosis receive not only compassionate care but also the support they need to access it.
Soroptimist International is a global movement of women, with members belonging to more than 3,000 clubs in 126 countries/territories, spread over 5 Federations
