1. Soroptimist International 40 years of Service to Women and Girls
of the
South West Pacific
Best Practice Awards
Ruby Anniversary
40 years of Service to Women and Girls

2. Objective 1
Education

3. SI Lautoka: Literacy Programme 2017
This ongoing project was created in response to a Ministry statement about literacy standards in the country and a need to promote better English.
The club decided on a reading competition to coincide with World Literacy Day and cooperated with the teachers of 500 children in three rural primary schools.
The presentation of story books and a writing competition generated interest and enthusiasm from students and teachers.

4. PFR # T18

5. SI Petaling Jaya: Soroptimist Puberty Organising Toolkit
This project seeks to offset the tremendous gaps in Malaysia’s sexual health and education for young people, especially girls on the cusp of puberty.
It endeavours to answer the question: What do I wish I knew back then? By providing modules in a correct and age appropriate manner, through workshops, videos, social media and diaries it seeks to fill the gap between what children should know and their actual knowledge.

6. PFR #T2
winner

7. SI Petaling Jaya

8. Objective 2 Elimination of Violence

9. SI Brisbane: Answer the Call
This project is based on advocacy and awareness and began as project to ensure that the Women’s Legal Service had sufficient funds to ensure that women contacting it for help would have their call answered.
A fund-raising breakfast grew into an extensive advocacy project that involved community awareness and help, submissions on laws before federal and state parliaments and continued partnerships to assist women experiencing violence.
winner

10. PFR #42365

11. SI Region of Malaysia Stop Trafficking Women and Girls
This well researched and structured region project was multi-faceted and sought to educate both university students and the public about human trafficking and what the public could do about the issue.
Linked to the 16 Days of Activism and the Federation’s long-running Walk the Talk it involved a walk, a seminar and a film and had support from a wide range of sponsors and government support.

12. PFR# T3

13. SI Brisbane

14. Objective 5 Healthcare

15. SI Gold Coast: Mother’s Journey
This project, in conjunction with the NGO University of the Nations in Cambodia, as part of it’s Women at Risk Program, sought to ensure effective free medical care, midwifery care and counselling to women in poverty or trauma.
The club sought to provide free care to two women and was fortunate that a member was able to visit and monitor needs while formal communication was established.

16. PFR #42224
winner

17. United Clubs: Cycle for Cycles
This project, a joint effort between Damansara, Melba, Singapore and Phnom Penh, acted through fundraising to provide cycles to facilitate the work of Village Malaria Workers who are the front line in the fight against the disease in Cambodia.
Their fundraising and purchase and oversight by the Cambodian club provide success that has led to a request for expansion of the project.

18. PFR# #42398

19. SI Gold Coast

20. Objective 6 Environmental sustainability/water & sanitation

21. SI Lautoka: Our Oceans, Our Future
This project reflects the significance of climate change and the need to educate school students about the issue.
With the cooperation of the government sector and the effectiveness of a specialist speaker, an advocacy project utilising an essay competition was held for senior students

22. PFR #42108

23. SI Penang: Winds of Change
This project addressed the needs of a Women’s Welfare Council that assisted unwed mothers, single mothers and underprivileged children.
Housed in an 1888 building with heat and poor air quality, the health of babies and children suffered.
Through careful research the club found and had installed an energy efficient and effective system.
winner

24. PFR # 42367
winner

25. SI Penang

26. Objective 3 Economic Empowerment

27. SI Damansara : Life Skills 4 Youth
This project aimed to bridge the gap between disadvantaged young women and their more advantaged peers by providing them with soft skills to improve their work readiness, work based learning opportunities and mentoring girls into technical opportunities.
540 young women have benefitted with an 82% employment success rate.
winner

28. # PFR 42110

29. Objective 4 Food Security

30. SI Lautoka : Food Security
This project, linked to the Saturday of Service, tackled the issue in a practical way.
Establishing the food shortages at a hostel for 150 girls undertaking education, the club established a garden to supplement food and in so doing inspired further activity on the site to achieve food security.
winner

31. PFR # T12

32. “Soroptimists: Be the Changemakers”
President’s Special Award
“Soroptimists:
Be the Changemakers”

33. Cycling for Cycles
SI Damansara
SI Melba
SI Phnom Penh
SI Singapore

34. Overall Excellence

35. SPOT Community Programme
SI Petaling Jaya
SPOT Community Programme