Soroptimist - Göztepe Soroptimist

Soroptimist International is a global volunteer movement working together to transform the lives of women and girls. A network of around 72,000 club members in 121 countries and territories works at a local, national and international level to educate, empower and enable opportunities for women and girls. The organization has representatives in the United Nations.

Soroptimist is a derivative word from Latin “sorore” and “optima”, meaning “sister” and “goodwill”.

The first club of the International Soroptimist (SI) organization was founded in 1921 in Oakland, California, USA. Clubs initially spread to Europe in London in 1923 and subsequently in Paris in 1924.

Soroptimist International globally consists of 5 Federations:

*Soroptimist International of the Americas (SIA),

*Soroptimist International of Great Britain & Ireland (SIGBI),

*Soroptimist International of Europe (SIE),

*Soroptimist International of South- West Pacific (SISWP)

*Soroptimist International of Africa (SIAF).

Soroptimist Unions or Single Clubs is comprised in 44 countries within the European Federation. Turkish Soroptimist Clubs are affiliated to the European Federation under the name of Turkish Union.

There are 5 clubs in Izmir as Izmir Soroptimist Club, Alsancak Soroptimist Club, Göztepe Soroptimist Club, Kordon Soroptimist Club and Karşıyaka Soroptimist Club.

The name of the clubs starts with the name of the city or district where they are located and their full names are “………. Soroptimist Club, Business and Professional Women”s Association”.

Business and professional women over 21 become members of the clubs. There should be one member from each profession in principle. A period of 5 years must be proceeded for acceptance of a new member from the same profession.

Projects take place all over the world focusing on issues as

*Education,

*Violence Against Women,

*Women’s Empowerment,

*Health and Food Security,

*Sustainability.

Soroptimists and information about activities can be searched from the related federation websites and social media accounts listed below;

Web;

SI, Soroptimist International:

www.soroptimistinternational.org/

SI/E, Soroptimist International of Europe:

http://www.soroptimisteurope.org/