“Best for women” Soroptimists are active in Olympia

This week come with me to explore an organization I've heard about over the years but never knew very much about.

Soroptimist International is a global volunteer movement working to transform the lives of women and girls around the world. Their network of around 80,000 club members in 130 countries and territories works to educate, empower and enable opportunities for women and girls.

I spoke to Soroptimist International of Olympia president Karen Hall about the programs supported by their club. My first question was about their name.

Soroptimist means "best for women," and that's what all Soroptimist Clubs strive to be; "an organization of women at their best helping other women to be their best," according to their material. As an organization of volunteer-oriented business and professional women, they feel uniquely qualified to help women and girls live their dreams.

Soroptimist International of Olympia has taken an active role in our local community to make it a better place to live and work. The following are examples of their local and international services:

Steps In Opportunity Tech Award

The local chapter created the  "Steps In Opportunity Tech Award" to a need in our Thurston County community. The importance of education and the rising costs associated with women achieving their goals were some of the factors considered in the creation of this award. This award is available to female-identifying individuals who find themselves in need of financial assistance for a piece of technology to complete their education. Applications for the 2022 awards go out to local schools in November 2021. Students will have until February to complete and return the applications; awards are announced in April. For information about how to apply for the 2022 awards, send an email to siotechaward@gmail.com.

Live Your Dream

Educational awards go out to adult women who have overcome significant hardships and seek degrees to better provide for their families.

The club also supports "Expanding Your Horizons," a local science and math fair that encourages girls to pursue careers in STEM fields. Olympia Soroptimists annually provide tuition for multiple girls to attend the YWCA Olympia's Girls Without Limits! Program, which offers gender-responsive, culturally relevant programming that promotes confidence, skill-building, career awareness, and curiosity in science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM).

 Foster-care comfort packs

Olympia Soroptimist members create Comfort Packs (backpacks) to give to infants and teen girls who move to foster homes. These packs include necessary hygiene items as well as socks and underwear. They work directly with the Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families' foster care program for youth.

 A scholarship in Africa

Olympia Soroptimists provide one annual scholarship to a woman in Rwanda earning her medical degree at Hope Africa University there. 

Workforce education for women

Olympia Soroptimists partners with Olympia YWCA Women's Economic Empowerment Program, preparing participants for careers in administration and human services.

Soroptimist members meet with participants in a group-mentoring environment to discuss employment-related topics such as building self-confidence, how to give and receive constructive criticism, sharpening communication skills, and providing excellent customer service.

 South Sound Exceptional Woman Awards

In November, applications become available for the South Sound Exceptional Woman Awards. The public is invited to nominate women in their acquaintance that they feel do an outstanding job in their career or volunteer field. Past winners have included an administrative assistant for afire department and a secretary of state. Twenty women will be given this award in May 2022.

To learn more about these programs, go to soroptimistolympia.org or email them at siolympia@soroptimist.net. 

Note:  See the Soroptimists' Period Collection Days campaign in the story links or here.