Founder members of Mullingar Soroptimists, from left, Noirin Abbott, Connie Galligan, Teresa O’Sullivan, Ina O’Leary and Valyrie Moroney, all of whom are still active in the organisation, at the anniversary lunch in Bloomfield House Hotel.

Our mission is ‘empowering, educating and enabling females

Looking back on 30 years of Mullingar Soroptimists

Published: Sun 20 Nov 2022, 10:47 AM

Last updated: Sun 20 Nov 2022, 11:06 AM

Empowering, educating and enabling women and girls is what Mullingar Soroptimists are about, as well as fundraising for charities. They run public speaking competitions for local school girls and are involved in STEM to encourage girls to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. This year, they are also involved in the United Nations ‘Orange the World’ campaign to stamp out violence against women.

Anne Melly, president of the Mullingar Soroptimists, in an interview with the Westmeath Examiner on their 30th anniversary, said that their annual Christmas lunch is held to raise funds for local charities and projects. This year’s lunch will be on December 2.

"Our focus is not about massive fundraising, but about seed funding to get projects up and running, especially projects that might not otherwise get funding – giving a lift to women and girls," Sarah McCormack, programme action coordinator said.

"We cover local, national and global projects, but the emphasis is on local," she said.

Their public speaking competitions will be held on Thursday, November 16. "We engage with local schools and hold competitions in public speaking to give girls the confidence to go forward to the regional and national competitions," Sarah said. They have linked in with the Mullingar Toastmasters to provide the contestants with tips on public speaking.

Mullingar contestants have enjoyed considerable success in the competition and the local branch has sponsored two national winners.

‘Orange the World’ is a UN campaign from November 25 to December 16 to end violence against women. Soroptimists Mullingar are joining many of their colleagues globally in spraying women’s shoes orange and putting them at strategic locations around town to attract public attention and increase awareness of violence against women and the need to end it.

Sarah pointed out that nearly one in three women experience violence in their lifetimes and, as seen during the Covid-19 pandemic, in times of crisis, the numbers rise. The campaign will provide helpline numbers and posters highlighting supports for victims.

Mullingar Soroptimists will work with local shops and businesses to have shoes displayed from November 25 to December 10.

"We have up on 100 shoes ready for distribution," Sarah said. They are partnering with AVIVA on this initiation.

Their involvement in STEM is in line with their ethos of educating and empowering women. Anne Melly explained that girls first consider career options in third and fourth class of primary school. The local Presentation Schools are working with the Soroptimists to facilitate a series of action plans on STEM over the next academic year. Again, AVIVA is working in partnership with the Soroptimists on that.

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