International Projects
International projects keeps the lines of communication open with our five International Friendship Links; Istanbul, Turkey; Sunderland, England; Luxemburg, Tijuana Centro, Mexico; and North Shore Auckland, New Zealand; to support and achieve a better understanding of United Nations programs.
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Mardin Rug Project
For more than 20 years our club has supported a joint Carpet Weaving Project with our friendship link in Istanbul, Turkey. Over the years we have brought carpets to San Diego, sold them, and returned the money to the school. This pays for ongoing Project costs and teachers, to make additional intricate rugs. In 2003, SISD received a Best Practice Award for this project at the Soroptimist International Convention in Sydney, Australia. |
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The carpet project has survived a few setbacks, and has now evolved into a successful school in the ancient city of Mardin, in Eastern Turkey. The school includes several carpet weaving looms, a small computer room, and kindergarten for children. A newer addition is a school to teach cooking, which includes operating a cafe. A plaque with our SISD club name over the door welcomes visitors to the schools.
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Balat Culture House
For many years members of our Turkish friendship link in Mardin kept telling us of their goal to build a Cooking School in Istanbul's oldest settlement on the Golden Horn, called Balat. Balat is a historic district, home to diverse cultures such as Byzantine Greeks, Jews and Armenians, as well as Turks. In 1999 The Turkish Soroptimist Union acquired a 29 year lease on a beautiful old building in Balat, and had been struggling to obtain enough funds to refurbish this historic house to the standards required by the Turkish government. |
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SISD members donated funds for this mission, and in 2010 the dream of the Turkish Union was realized. They received a large grant from the Turkish government to rebuild this classic wooden house. The project was undertaken by three members of our Etiler Friendship Link: Emine Erdem, President of the Turkish Union; Yasemin Ozes, Secretary of the Turkish Union, who visited SISD in 2007; and Inci Artan, a long time leader in the Etiler Club. The new Soroptimist House features classic Balat architecture, featuring twin buildings with three levels, bay windows, a small garden and a terraced roof facing Istanbul's famous Golden Horn. In the opposite roof-top direction is a stunning view of Istanbul's oldest Synagogue, originally constructed in the 15th century, before the Ottoman conquest.
The building had just been completed when SISD member Bev Parsons was in Turkey, and lucky enough to spend an afternoon there to see first-hand the incredible realization of Soroptimist dreams: to improve the social life of Balat, to provide an avenue of learning for the jobless women in Balat, and to create a business environment for local women.
The building had just been completed when SISD member Bev Parsons was in Turkey, and lucky enough to spend an afternoon there to see first-hand the incredible realization of Soroptimist dreams: to improve the social life of Balat, to provide an avenue of learning for the jobless women in Balat, and to create a business environment for local women.
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SI Tijuana Centro Club
Staying close to home, SISD heads south of the border to Tijuana, MX. In cooperation with the local SI Tijuana Centro Club, SISD participated in the founding and support of the Tijuana Soroptimist School for Elementary Children in 2006. Our participation initially resulted in furnishing one schoolroom and providing computers for the children. |
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As a result of our involvement, and because it was so successful, the project garnered government support to open a new school. SISD member Jeanette Roache, who established and ran her own non-profit Technology Training Foundation of America, donated a bank of new computers for the school, bringing the wide, wide world of knowledge to the students.
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SI North Shore Auckland, New Zealand
Soroptimist International of San Diego and our friendship link Soroptimist North Shore Auckland New Zealand are working together to provide North Shore women an Educate to Lead monetary award. This is an opportunity for our two clubs to join in partnership to provide a unique education grant for women who provide the primary financial support for their families. |
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The award will support a woman who is the primary financial supporter for their family; and gives some financial support to further their education, skills and employment prospects in the future. The recipient may use the funds provided in any way which directly supports her costs to support her to attain higher education skills or formal qualifications. This may include, but is not restricted to fees, books, transport or tuition, therefore enabling the recipient to focus on her studies rather than the challenge of some of the costs involved.
North Shore Auckland, New Zealand PO Box 33-495, Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand
North Shore Auckland, New Zealand PO Box 33-495, Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand
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Japanese Friendship Garden
This beautiful garden is located in San Diego's historic Balboa Park. It originated as a teahouse during the 1915-16 Panama-California Exposition, that built most of the historic buildings in the Park. The Friendship House was built in Yokohama, dismantled, shipped to San Diego, then reconstructed entirely without nails. Because of SISD's previous friendship link with the SI Yokohama-Higashi club, we maintain yearly membership in the Garden. |
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