SI Forum 2023 in Speyer

Again this year it was an exciting conference with a lot of networking and exchange. We talked about what we do, about our club development, our network and what we want to develop together for the future.

We heard exciting presentations e.g. from Dr. Kira Marrs (researcher at ISF Munich) about digital transformation and how this can be used as a door opener for more gender equality.

In addition, the SIE President-elect, Hafdís Karlsdóttir, who will take office in January, presented her vision of the work of SI Europe. She pleads for more teamwork at all levels: "It doesn't matter if we work at club, union, federation or inter-national level, we all have the same vision and work towards the same goal: Soroptimists want to change and improve the lives and status of women and girls through education, empowerment and new opportunities."

As every time, it was inspiring and enriching to meet and get to know so many dedicated women.

They all reminded us in their speeches in what a fragile world we live and how much still needs to be done so that all women can live in a just and sustainable world.Another highlight was the very inspiring and interactive European Federation workshop on gender justice.

However, the living heart of SI is the friendship among each other. In Dublin, we had many opportunities to renew old friendships, make new ones and experience being part of a large, worldwide organisation. Its aim is to work together to improve the living conditions of women and girls:

 A Global Voice for Women

"Naga - The Buried Royal City"

 On this museum visit we let our club sister Dr. Veronika Hinterhuber (archaeologist for the cultural history of Northeast Africa) take us far back in time. Our destination: the Meroitic era of the Kingdom of Kush (ca. 270 BC - ca. 350 AD) in ancient Sudan. Veronika did an excellent job of introducing us to this rather unknown advanced civilisation. In the room "Nubia and Sudan" we saw art treasures of remarkable beauty and highest craftsmanship. The gold jewellery of the ruler Amanishakheto, who was not only physically strong but also very successful in war, is one of the most prominent exhibits in the museum.

The special show "Naga - the buried royal city" offered a completely new museum experience. The focus is not on the recovered artefacts, but through walk-through photo panoramas and sound effects, the archaeological site of Naga, the work of excavation and the impressive landscape of the Sudanese desert are brought into focus.

As another highlight of the evening, we (reinforced by club sisters from the other Munich clubs) were able to enjoy a wonderful late summer evening outdoors at a 'chat meeting' with good Italian food.

Fáilte go Baile Átha Cliath -

 SI World Convention in Dublin 2023

At the end of July more than 1700 Soroptimists from all over the world met for their World Convention, which is hosted by a fSI federation every 4 years. This time we received a very warm welcome in Dublin.

Our convention opened with the flag ceremony, reminding us how far many Soroptimists had travelled from and that we are a vibrant worldwide network. The German Soroptimists were very well represented with 130 participants.

The convention was themed 'Challenge the Future' and brought speakers from all over the world to the podium, e.g. the First President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson or Nicole Ameline, French politician, lawyer, diplomat and advocate for women's rights.

They all reminded us in their speeches in what a fragile world we live and how much still needs to be done so that all women can live in a just and sustainable world.Another highlight was the very inspiring and interactive European Federation workshop on gender justice.

However, the living heart of SI is the friendship among each other. In Dublin, we had many opportunities to renew old friendships, make new ones and experience being part of a large, worldwide organisation. Its aim is to work together to improve the living conditions of women and girls:

 A Global Voice for Women

District Meeting 2023
District meeting of SID Clubs 6 and 8 in Nuremberg

The SID Districts 6 and 8 met this year in Nuremberg for an inter-district exchange on the topic: Club development "Quo Vadis"?

The SI Club Nuremberg, which had taken over the organisation, welcomed us all very warmly to this meeting.

Under the moderation of the district presidents Katja Straubinger-Wolf (District 6) and Gaby Schweinsteiger (District 8), 40 committed Soroptimists discussed the possibilities for further development of the SI Clubs.

Very different topics were addressed, such as: how to organise a successful club evening, should SI also establish its own youth organisation, how do we deal with the increasing demands and bureaucracy of SID, how do we motivate our club sisters to become more involved, how do we inspire young women for SI, how does SI become more visible.

In Nuremberg, we experienced once again what SI means: a community of committed, smart women with stimulating discussions, lively exchanges and many new ideas

At the beginning of January 2023, our club sister Renate invited us to her traditional New Year's reception, which could not take place for 3 years due to the pandemic.

About half of our club sisters accepted the invitation. Renate provided drinks and delicious small treats.

In this hospitable atmosphere we spent a very nice Sunday morning with lively conversations. We made plans for the new club year and were just happy to meet again with so many club sisters.

Together we toasted to the new year and our SI Club. For us, the club also is about: interesting joint evenings and activities, friendly exchange, solidarity with and among women and the joint commitment to the cause of women.

Soroptimist International Deutschland
Forum 2022 - We shape the future

In November, a convention on shaping our future took place in Speyer under the motto: ‘working together as a network to make our living environments fit for the future’.

With presentations on topics such as the new world of work, sustainable building, women's health, gender equality and networking, the participants dealt with various aspects for shaping our future.

The presentation of Carolien Demey, especially, - she is the current president of SI Europe - was impressive and inspiring. She called on us Soroptimists to act more visibly through intensive networking, inter-club cooperation and mutual appreciation in Germany, Europe and worldwide and to make Soroptimism better known. We should no longer be perceived as "the best kept secret of the women's world" but as 'a Global Voice for Women'.

The special thing about Soroptimist networking is that we are clearly not networking for our own personal gain. We are not looking for a new job or a promotion. We have a higher goal and that is what is interesting and makes people curious

Demonstration on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in Munich.

In pouring rain, but in a good mood, loud, orange and with samba rhythms, the club sisters took part in the demonstration in Schwabing on 25.11.2022. Dressed in our orange high-visibility waistcoats, we stood out and were able to draw attention to the problem of 'violence against women'.

'Was tun' - screening of the documentary film by Michael Kranz

On 27.11.2022 we organised the viewing of the award-winning and very touching film 'Was tun' about the lives of forced prostitutes in Bangladesh.

At the beginning of the film, a young forced prostitute asks the question: "Is there no other way for us women than suffering? Is there any other way at all?"

The director asks himself and us what each individual can do in the face of the misery and violence to which these women and also their children are subjected.

After the screening, the director Michael Kranz answered our questions and promoted his project 'Bondhu Förderverein Deutschland e.V.'. In this project he tries to improve the situation of the women, but also their children, on the spot. The project is his personal answer to the question 'What to do'.

Our answer was a fundraising for the Bondhu Förderverein Deutschland e.V. 1200 € was donated. With this money we now want to support the training project for former forced prostitutes

Church service with church councillor Dr. Barbara Pühl

As part of the Orange Days, our club sister Dagmar Knecht held a church service in the Heilig Geist Church in Moosach on 04.12.2022.

Invited as guest preacher was Dr. Barbara Pühl, director of the evangelical services in Munich, who gave a sermon on the Song of Solomon 2:8-13. The Song of Solomon is actually a love song. Love - this elemental force of life for which all people long, but which for many remains only a dream, as they often only experience a lack of appreciation and violence in their lives - state violence, structural violence and also violence in their private relationships. Dr. Pühl drew our attention to the courageous Iranian women, but also of the daily violence against women in our society. She asked us not to look away and silently accept violence, but to make this violence public, as we do with the Orange Days.

'Women to the negotiating table'!

Under the motto: 'Women to the negotiating table', the three Munich SI Clubs organised an exciting discussion round in Munich. Prof. Dr. Margot Käßmann, theologian and former chairperson of the Council of the Protestant Church, Prof. Dr. Ursula Münch, director of the Academy for Political Education in Tutzing, Fadumo Korn, chairperson of the association 'Nala', and Verena Berthold, psychologist, from the association 'Zivilcourage für Alle' discussed the issue.

After a keynote speech by Dr. Käßmann and Dr. Münch, the panellists, moderated by Daniela Scharper from the SI Club Munich, explored the question of whether women might negotiate conflicts differently and more sustainably. Although there are certainly indications for this theory, the question cannot be answered that easily. But the fact is that in very many national and international conflicts, and especially in armed conflicts, only men sit at the negotiating table, although women (and children) suffer disproportionately from the consequences of these conflicts.

The proceeds of this event were donated to the Nala e.V. association. The association has been working against FGM for years under the motto: Education instead of genital mutilation .

Visit to the Open Garden Day at Ecological Education Center (ÖBZ)  on  Sunday the 19.06.2022

With beautiful weather, we experienced a particularly beautiful  piece of earth in the middle of a big city. With fairly traded organic coffee or tea and delicious, home-baked cakes made from organic ingredients, we were able to get to know the special atmosphere of the house, which offered an open, informal meeting place for young and old.

The director of the Ecological Education Center (ÖBZ), Mr Haug, gave us a very interesting guided tour and we were all impressed by the work that is done at the ÖBZ to promote sustainability and an understanding of nature.

Of course, we were particularly interested in 'our' toad pond, which we hope will one day be accepted by the migratory toad as it was planned.

The goals of the ÖBZ are environmental education and education for sustainable development. The guiding idea is the sustainable development of the city of Munich. The gardens around the ÖBZ cover various thematic areas: Insect, fragrance and herb garden, rock garden, dry and water area as well as berry and vegetable garden.

The ÖBZ's events are aimed at children, young people, families and adults. The topic of the environment and sustainability is meant to be experienced for city dwellers through touching, participating and their own hands-on experiences.

Since 2021, the Club München-Schwabing has supported the ÖBZ together with the other Munich clubs. 

The proceeds of the day and our donation  benefit environmental education.

On October 10^th .2021 our club sister Monika Maier-Pojda was elected as the new president of the Bavarian State Women's Council.

The Bavarian State Women's Council is a federation of 54 women's associations and women organisations and represents almost 4 million women in Bavaria. It is non-denominational, non-partisan and independent. Its aim is to improve the situation of women in the state, economy and society.



Our club sister is a very committed woman who has been successfully campaigning for women's issues in many areas for a long time.

We congratulate Monika very warmly on her successful election!