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HomeNewsSoroptimist International Of Kawartha Lakes GOAL Program Expanding To Other Jurisdictions

Soroptimist International Of Kawartha Lakes GOAL Program Expanding To Other Jurisdictions

KAWARTHA LAKES-The Soroptimist International of Kawartha Lakes (SIKL) has been helping local women and girls reach their full potential for more than ten years.

The Girls of Action and Leadership or GOAL is a program developed by SIKL for local girls in grades 4-6. It’s been so successful that they have obtained copyright and it is now being used by other clubs.

“It’s a ten-week, after school program that is very interactive and the whole idea is the kids come and learn a lesson and then they walk and run, getting off the couch and not looking at tv, instead of a thumb exercise they are getting a full-body exercise,” says Susan Peirce, Vice President.

The lessons deal with things such as, how to get along with one another, reducing conflict and coming together again, nutrition and how to read labels, self-esteem and more. it builds on walking and running every week and at the end, they do a fun run of 5km.

“We give them brand new running shoes, a lot have never had new shoes, socks T shirt, and a big party!” exclaims Peirce.

Soroptimist is an international organization for women who volunteer to improve the lives of women and girls. There are over 75,000 Soroptimists in 121 countries and territories.

The name ‘Soroptimist’ means “best for women”. Soroptimists are women at their best,
working to help other women to be their best according to Pierce.

‘We get really emotional with the impact we’ve had.’ says Pam Putman one of the first charter members. “The summer I moved here from Kincardine I read in the paper about a possible chapter. I decided to go to a few meetings with the Soroptimist. I thought this was something I could get involved with and find some meaning with. You just know you are an important part of the community.”

The GOAL program started out at Queen Victoria and King Albert schools as identified by the board and police as schools that could use the program.  It then went to Langton in Fenelon Falls and Cameron with the hope to expand to Bobcaygeon and Dunsford soon. In 2018/19, 205 girls went through the program.

GOAL is just one of many ways the club helps local women and girls.

The Live Your Dream program provides bursaries for young girls who are the financial head of their household and have dependents such as a sibling or child. $21,500 has been awarded to 19 women so far. The money can be used for whatever the recipient decides to use it for.

The Dream It To Be It program is for grade 9-11 girls and provides career direction and helps get rid of stumbling blocks that could be holding them back.

The Positive Influence Award is identified by a teacher. It is given to someone who has displayed personal leadership with good morals and other people look up to them.

“I thought, I can use my gifts to help this club. I didn’t know how but I knew I could. I’ve made great friendships with this. It’s the friendships, the awards that tug at your heart that how we are making a difference in their lives. It’s been incredible.” says Peirce.

SIKL is a charitable organization and relies on fundraising and donations to continue offering its programs. The pandemic has meant they have had to cancel their Snowflake Gala and other fundraising events for the past two years.

They are also looking for new members. Donations can be sent by transfer to  [email protected].  For more information on programs or on joining SIKL go to http://sikawarthalakes.org.

 

 

 

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Pamela Vanmeer
Pamela Vanmeerhttps://www.kawartha411.ca/
Pamela VanMeer is a two time winner of the prestigious Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) Award. Her investigative reports on abuse in Long Term Care Homes garnered international attention for the issue and won the Ron Laidlaw Award. She is a former reporter and anchor at CHEX News, now Global Peterborough and helped launch the New CHEX Daily, a daily half hour talk show. While at CHCH News in Hamilton she covered some of the biggest news stories of the day.

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