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Programme Action is at the heart of Soroptimist International. The Club Programme Action Committee is the primary committee of the club. It provides the opportunity for members to discuss diverse issues that impact on the well being and advancement of the status of women. This can range from local projects such as supporting the local women's Refuge, lobbying the local MP's on issues such as trafficking in women and children to working with international organisations such as Practical Action and UNICEF. The Programme Action committee reports back to the club at every business meeting. It also reports to the Yorkshire Regional Programme Action Committee and ultimately through the Programme Focus Report forms to the United Kingdom Programme Action Committee (UKPAC)

There are six main programme focus areas, these are: Education; Environment; Health; Human Rights; International goodwill and understanding; Economic Development.

The club actively supports all areas of the programme focus. It is a large agenda and the club focuses on a number of specific areas. For the next 3 years the club's main international project will be supporting Practical Action in improving the health and well being of women in children in NEPAL by working with the community to provide Smoke Hoods to ensure that smoke from domestic fires is channelled safely away from the living area. To quote

"The smoke from burning these fuels turns kitchens in the world’s poorest countries into death traps. Indoor air pollution from the burning of solid fuels kills over 1.6 million people, predominately women and children, each year. This is more than three people per minute. It is a death toll almost as great as that caused by unsafe water and sanitation, and greater than that caused by malaria. Smoke in the home is one of the world’s leading child killers, claiming nearly one million children’s lives each year." to find out more about this "Killer in the Kitchen" click here.

Supporting such a project covers all the areas of the programme focus. Providing smoke hoods will require educating people about the risks of smoke, it will improve the environment in which families live and thereby improve their health (two thirds of women who die of lung cancer in China and India do not smoke!); it raises awareness and understanding of how other's live and through small local projects owned and driven by the local people it increases economic development.

Nearer to home the club is involved with supporting Childline and the prevention of domestic abuse. This is done in a number of ways. It is not only raising funds where Soroptimist can offer service. Many of the members have high level of expertise and knowledge that contributes to other organisations in supporting these key areas.

The Club is also represented on local environment groups such as the Pine Woods Conservation Group in Harrogate. We provide service to the Community by being actively involved in Contact the Elderly. Members of the club act as drivers or hosts (sometimes both) to provide the opportunity for isolated elderly people to "get away from the same four walls" and meet and socialise with others.

The club raises funds for Breast Cancer Research by members taking part in Race for Life. Members also take part in the Nidderdale Charity Walk, organised by the local Rotary Club. Money raised from sponsorship is donated to the ITDG project.

Club members recently took part in a national initiative to highlight the issues of safety on English railway stations. Click here for a copy of the report.

The numerous activities taking place throughout the year that raise awareness, encourage us to act as advocates, we also ensure there is a fun and friendship in taking action.

The club supports the International Quadrennial Project - Project Independence. This excellent project seeks to support women survivors of war in countries such as the Balkans and Rwanda.

The International Soroptimist newsletter Global Voice keeps members updated on what is happening around the world. Nearer to home the UKPAC produces a newsletter of what is happening throughout the UK. Click here to download this and other documents.

Click on bold underlined type to take you to the relevant web page.