SI Port Talbot Projects
Each Soroptimist International club identifies the needs of its community, then establishes specific projects to address these needs. All our projects relate to one or more of the six Programme Focus Areas: Economic and Social Development, Education, Environment, Health, Human Rights and the Status of Women, and International Goodwill and Understanding.
More information is available in the Our Work pages, where you can read more about the current Programme Focus aims and the Quadrennial Project, supported by all clubs in the Federation.
The projects listed below include some of the local and international issues we research and support in SI Port Talbot:
Tools for Self Reliance
SI Port Talbot are pleased to work in partnership with "Tools for Self Reliance Cymru" an organisation which refurbishes tools,sewing and knitting machines which are then sent to Tanzania where local people are taught to use the tools and set up workshops
We all have old tools rusting away in the garden shed, a sewing machine lying idle in the attic,a knitting machine in the spare room - never used!!Discussions at a Club Business meeting revealed many members had numerous items which for sentimental reasons they could not bring themselves to throw away.
After some investigation 'Tools for Self Reliance Cymru' was located and we set about collecting items. When refurbished items are packed into containers, no space is wasted... sewing and knitting materials are packed into the smallest of spaces.In Tanzania people are taught how to use the tools, to become blacksmiths and seamstresses and to set up workshops and businesses; in the workshops they are now able to make and refurbish tools themselves.
The money that is earned helps build schools, send their children to school and have allowed people to become self sufficient.
We held a publicity day one Saturday at the local shopping centre and two weeks later had a collection point there.
We expected one or two machines and a few tools! In four hours on that Sunday morning alone we collected 32 sewing machines, 2 tons of tools plus knitting and sewing materials.
We have collected to date:
3 tons of tools
30 kilograms of knitting and sewing materials
53 sewing machines
- we are now collecting knitting machines
What has been interesting is most of the people who have given all this have said the items belonged to someone special so they couldn't just "dispose of them" and were really pleased they could go to give someone a real start in life and make a difference.
Youth in the Community Ward
Awarded in recognition of a young man or woman aged 14 - 25 involved in volunteer action within their family, community, school or college demonstrating initiative and committment
Gobizazi Creche, Durban
We support a creche outside Durban, South Africa - we correspond with it and from our fund raising offer some financial assistance.