About Soroptimist International of Calcutta in 11, Hungerford Street, Kolkata

Founded in 1921, Soroptimist International (SI) is a world-wide volunteer service organization for women of all ages, cultures and ethnic groups, who work to improve the lives of women and girls, in local communities and throughout the world. Through their General (Category One) Consultative Status as a non-governmental organization at the United Nations, the organization claims to seek equality, peace, and international goodwill for women. The Mission Statement of the organization is:
‘Through international partnerships and a global network of members, Soroptimists inspire action and create opportunities to transform the lives of women and girls by: Advocating for equity and equality; Creating safe and healthy environments; Increasing access to education; Developing leadership and practical skills for a sustainable future.’
There are four Federations around the world; SI of the Americas, SI Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI) Ltd, SI of Europe and SI of South West Pacific. The headquarters office for Soroptimist International is in Cambridge, UK. The organization comprises approximately 95,000 members in more than 125 countries and territories worldwide who contribute time and financial support to community-based and international projects. Soroptimist members belong to local clubs, which determine the focus of service to their communities. The name "Soroptimist" was coined by combining the Latin words soror "sister" and optimus "best", and can be taken to mean "best for women"
Soroptimism in India is headed by the National Association of Soroptimist India (NASI) Committee, which celebrates its 25th year in 2014. It is an administrative body, which links clubs in India to the Federation. Presently, there are more than 13 clubs all over India. More information about the NASI can be found in its website at http://sigbi.org/india/ .
Soroptimist International of Calcutta is an offspring of the parent Federation of Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI). Chartered on the 27th of October, 1979, it was founded by eminent personalities like Ms Aroti Dutt (daughter of Satyendra Chandra Mitra and daughter-in-law of Gurusaday Dutt) and Ms. Chitra Ghosh (daughter of Sarat Chandra Bose).
In carrying out the objectives of Soroptimism, SI Calcutta has undertaken several projects over the 35 years of its activity, for the welfare of the underprivileged children and women, some of the presently pursued projects being as follows:
•PROJECT HOLD MY HAND: This is the flagship project of SI Calcutta. Under this project, students of a Corporation School near Chetla are given free tuitions in English and Mathematics every evening from Mondays to Fridays. They are also given nutritious snacks, clothes on the occasion of Durga Puja, umbrellas during the monsoon season, and regular school supplies such as school shoes, exercise books, and other school stationery. Frequently cleanliness drives and tree planting projects are also conducted in the school premises.
•PROJECT DIGNITY: As the name suggests, this project aims at protecting the dignity of the underprivileged by donating money for construction of toilets in remote areas and villages. This year, toilets have been constructed in several sites in Ghatal, Shirakol and other places. Several other sites are being considered for the advancement of this project.
•PROJECT LIGHT TO FREEDOM: This project aims at providing speedy legal help to the inmates of the Alipore Women’s Correctional Home, through practicing lawyers, by offering money for bail and other legal advice.
•PROJECT RAINBOW: This is a project undertaken by SI Calcutta which is yet to be flagged off. Through this project, the inmates of the Alipore Women’s Correctional Home will be given training to make sanitary napkins, so that they may start a business after they are released for the purpose of becoming financially independent.
•PROJECT WINGS OF HOPE: Through this project, the children of the inmates of the Alipore Women’s Correctional Home are given lessons in singing, recitation, art-work, etc. The aim of this project is to spend some quality time with these children so that a positive attitude is imbibed in them which will help them overcome the negative atmosphere in the Correctional Home.