Soroptimist International

Soroptimist International is a worldwide group that helps women of all ages to accomplish anything they have ever dreamed of. Their vision is to create a world where all women reach their potential and have an equal say in all the happenings around the world. The main mission is to give unimaginable opportunities to women of all ages and allow them to transform their lives with the help of partners.

Soroptimist International takes in members and partners to help go around the world and transform lives. There are many programs that take place which focus on certain objectives. These objectives are: increase educational opportunities, increase access to employment opportunities, increase participation and eliminate violence, insure food and health care availability, and improving environmental sustainability for each individual woman. The focus objectives are based off five values that the Soroptimist International group has. The five values are: human rights for all, global peace and goodwill, advancing women's potential, integrity and democratic decision making, and volunteering, diversity, and friendship. The group uses these values to go about their missions and help out as many women as possible.

Soroptimist International began in 1921, in Oakland, California. The founders name was Violet Richardson Ward. She created the group to help women become more interested in social and business affairs of the community. The name comes from two Latin words, soro meaning "sister" and optima meaning "the best." So, the group was known as "the best for women". Over the years, clubs were starting up in many different countries allowing women all over the world receive help from this club.

Today there are a large amount of people that keep the club running. The current president is from the United States and her name is Alice Wells. There are also a number of women who are head of office in each part of the world. At the international headquarters office there are a couple managers that manage the programs and communications departments. Another group of five people help run the club and they are in charge of constitutions and resolutions. It takes a lot of women to run a worldwide club.

Soroptimist International has programs that last a month to two months. All the programs are done based on the focus objectives and mission statement. For April and May the program's focus is working to stop human trafficking. What the volunteers