In response to the December 26 earthquake and tsunami in Asia, Soroptimists from around the world have donated money to help women and girls in the affected areas rebuild their lives. Soroptimist is sensitive to the fact that the special needs of women and girls are often overlooked during disasters and in the reconstruction/recover phase.

In January 2005, Soroptimist made an initial $10,000 donation to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in response to its appeal to meet the urgent health, hygiene and protection needs of women in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Maldives-the three countries affected most by the disaster. The UNFPA plan was to assist women with childbirth and emergency obstetric care; provide psycho-social support to women who had become heads of households as a result of the disaster; promote the access of unaccompanied women to basic services including water, sanitation, food and healthcare; prevent and treat cases of violence against women; and distribute tampons and sanitary napkins.

Since that time, Soroptimist has collected more than $100,000 in disaster relief aid for the Tsunami. The organization will make additional donations to projects that focus on women and girls on the first anniversary of the Tsunami. Grants are available to organizations working with women and girls in the amounts of $10,000-$50,000. Please contact
Terry Flood with questions or for a copy of the request for proposals document.