Livelihood Training: Bangus Deboning

These photos were taken at a livelihood training conducted by Soroptimist International of Malabon at Caingin, Barangay Tinajeros, Malabon City, last February 15. 

The bangus deboning training is meant to give women at the project sites skills that they can earn an income from to support their families. Bangus deboning is a sought after skill at the local markets and even fish processing factories in the area. At the markets, a deboned bangus can fetch a premium of P10 over an unprepared fish. It is also a necessary skill if the participants should chose to start their own business in preparing and smoking fish.

For more pictures, click here.

Why Women and Girls? (a repost)

Soroptimist means "best for women" and that's what we strive to be—an organization of women at their best helping other women to be their best. 

It's true that both men and women live in poverty, face discrimination and must overcome obstacles. But throughout history—in every country in the world—women and girls face additional obstacles and discrimination solely because of their gender.

Why do women and girls need our help? 

Consider the following:

One in three women have been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in their lifetime.

According to a recent report, of the 600,000-800,000 people trafficked across international borders annually, 80 percent are female.

Women work two-thirds of the world's working hours but earn only 10 percent of the world's income, and own less than 1 percent of the world's property.

Of a total 550 million working poor, 330 million (60 percent) are women.

The United Nations estimates that globally women's unpaid care is worth up to $11 trillion annually.

Two-thirds of the 880 million illiterate adults are women.

Of the more than 110 million children not in school, approximately 60 percent are girls.

By age 18, girls have received an average of 4.4 years less education than boys.

In some countries in sub-Saharan Africa, adolescent girls have HIV rates up to five times higher than adolescent boys.

Pregnancies and childbirth-related health problems take the lives of nearly 146,000 teenage girls each year.

An estimated 450 million adult women in developing countries are stunted, a direct result of malnutrition in early life.

Two million girls and women are subjected to female genital mutilation every year, and thousands suffer needlessly from obstetric fistula.

Gender discrimination often begins at a young age—in some cases even before birth—and girl children are devalued and discriminated against throughout the world. In many cultures, girls are considered to have little or no value, and therefore poor families often opt not to educate their female children. Without an education, women are less likely to find sustaining work at a living wage, and are more likely to remain poor throughout their lifetimes.

Because of the prevalence of gender discrimination, harmful practices such as female genital mutilation, female infanticide and pre-natal sex selection are still widespread. Additionally, the devaluation of women leads to girls and women being sold into human bondage and sexual slavery. Women also experience discrimination in food allocation and lack of access to health care, which results in lower survival rates. And women around the world experience sexual abuse and domestic violence on a daily basis.

By initiating club projects that benefit women and girls, and by honoring women who help women and girls, Soroptimist clubs and members improve the status of women and girls. Soroptimist projects and programs aid women economically, and empower them to make positive changes in their lives and their communities.

-From http://www.soroptimist.org/

Bringing Some Cheer to Displaced Families in Tugatog

 

The President of Soroptimist International of Malabon City, Jeannie Sandoval, took a time off during the eve of New Year 2013, to distribute fruits to victims of a fire that displaced a number of families in Barangay Tugatog.

It is a custom in many Filipino households to keep a bowl of round fruits on New Years Eve to bring good luck. It is the wish of SIM that the small gesture would uplift the spirits of the victims as they greet the New Year with high hopes.

DWDD Radio Interview

Soroptimist International of Malabon President, Jeannie Sandoval, was interviewed by Lei Angeles in her show "Sharing the Night Together" at DWDD Armed Forces Radio, 1134 Khz AM, on September 10, 2012.

Jeannie talked about what Soroptimist International of Malabon is all about, its affiliations, its mission and advocacies. She also talked about the clubs ongoing projects and programs, and projects by Soroptimist International of the Americas that are aimed at bettering the lives of women and girls all over the world.

Link to Part 2 of the interview.

Food Tech Donation to Tinajeros High School

When it comes to Food Technology, the right tools always make a difference in producing quality products. To enhance the learning experience of students of food technology classes at Tinajeros High School, Soroptimist International of Malabon, led by its president Jeannie Sandoval, donated a stainless steel table. The stainless steel table will be perfect for breadmaking and baking classes.

KASAMA HS Mural Painting Contest

 

The Department of Education - Malabon City, in cooperation with Kalipunan ng mga Samahan sa Malabon and SI Malabon, held a Mural Painting Contest recently. The final round of judging was held on December 11, 2012. SIM's President, Jeannie Sandoval was one of the judges at the contest, along with renowned artists Eric Mercado and Mar dela Cruz, both hailing from Malabon City.

For more pictures, click here.

Live Your Dream

Live Your Dream is a community that connects people online to do volunteer work offline that helps women and girls to live their dreams. When you join the Live Your Dream community, you join a group of like-minded individuals who dream of making the world a better place for women and girls.

JOIN the community now and let’s make those dreams a reality.

Stop Human Trafficking!

"Millions of women and girls around the world are assaulted, beaten, raped, mutilated or even murdered in what constitutes appalling violations of their human rights. [...] We must fundamentally challenge the culture of discrimination that allows violence to continue. On this International Day, I call on all governments to make good on their pledges to end all forms of violence against women and girls in all parts of the world, and I urge all people to support this important goal."

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Message for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, 25 November 2012

---

Soroptimist International of Malabon, stands alongside other women organizations across the world, in commemorating this day by raising awareness on the plight of women who are victims of violence.

The day also coincides with Soroptimist International of the Americas' Stop Trafficking Project. Human trafficking subjugates, enslaves and subjects women and young girls to brutal physical and emotional violence. The troubling fact is that forced labor, sex trafficking, child labor, bonded labor sometimes exists and even flourish in our communities.

People need to be made aware to be vigilant.

Stop trafficking!

Stop violence against women.

Livelihood and Skills Training

Soroptimist International of Malabon held a Livelihood and Skills Training Program at Barangay Tugatog, Malabon City, on the 10th of November. The Training Program provided free training on therapeutic body massage, aromatherapy, candle-making and micro-entrepreneurship. Instructional materials were given out to participants for their future references, as well as free "start-up" kits to get them on their way.

For more pictures, click here.

United Nations Day Celebrations

SI Malabon members pose with Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado, and US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry K. Thomas, Jr., and SIPR Governor Minda Garcia, during the United Nations Day Celebration, at Malolos, Bulacan.

TEEN DATING ROMANCE AND RHYTHM

TEEN DATING ROMANCE AND RHYTHM A talk about Love and Relationship Soroptimist International of Malabon held on October 12, a Teen Dating Seminar at Tinajeros High School. The seminar was designed to place dating in the right perspective, and help teens become aware of issues on teen dating violence, how to identify an abusive relationship, and what to do to end it. To appeal to teen sensibilities, the format of the seminar is made lively, and the talk itself interspersed with acoustic covers of popular songs.

For more pictures, click here.

UPDATE on the New SI Malabon Soroptimist Center

SI Malabon was the first to have a Soroptimist Center in the SI Philippine Region.  However, the old center had to be demolished to give way to a road project.  Since then, it has been restored.

Sitting on a 120 square meter property, the  center is intended to be a venue for SIM to hold monthly club meetings, conduct seminars and announce livelihood projects to women and girls.  The center will also serve as a “go to” for women who are victims of abuse and are seeking help.

...