SOROPTIMIST GRANTS $20,000 TO HELP FAMILIES DISPLACED BY FLOODS

April 18, 2008
Contact: Kamali Brooks, Public Relations Manager
215-893-9000 x130, kamali@soroptimist.org 

PHILADELPHIA, Pa.—Soroptimist International of the Americas, an international volunteer organization of business and professional women dedicated to improving the lives of women and girl, presented a $20,000 disaster relief grant to its club in Guayaquil, Ecuador to help meet the needs of women and their families who were displaced by recent floods. With the grant, Guayaquil Soroptimists will provide these women with new homes and seeds to re-grow crops.

Torrential rains caused the Chanchan River to overflow and have caused small villages to disappear on the lowest part of the coastal area. Flooding water left displaced women and children with no resources, and destroyed local roads, crops and fields. High waters caused diseases to spread due to humidity, insects and lack of clothing. Soroptimist International of Guayaquil plans to partner with Christ Home Foundation, which builds low-cost houses out of bamboo material that are then placed at certain elevations to prevent future flooding. The houses generally have one room that is four feet by four feet, but club members hope to construct three-room houses. Seeds will also be provided to replace damaged crops to help with food shortages.

“Women and girls are particularly vulnerable during disasters. They lack mobility and access to resources, have increased family responsibilities, and are susceptible to physical danger,” said Soroptimist’s executive director, Leigh Wintz, CAE. “Soroptimist's disaster relief program mitigates the barriers facing women and girls during disasters, making it easier for them to get the resources they need to survive.”

Soroptimist’s disaster relief grants, which range from $1,000 to $20,000, assist women who have been victims of natural disasters or acts of war. Soroptimist has long been concerned about the disproportionate effects of disasters on women and girls. In addition to providing the Disaster Relief Grants, Soroptimist recently funded a research study conducted by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), titled “Women in the Wake of the Storm: Examining the Post-Katrina Realities of the Women of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.” The study found that women faced and continue to confront special challenges to their health, safety, and economic wellbeing in the lingering aftermath of hurricane Katrina; that women were at an increased risk of exposure to sexual assault and domestic violence; and that they encounter greater economic hurdles when rebuilding their lives.

Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Soroptimist is an international volunteer organization for business and professional women who work to improve the lives of women and girls, in local communities and throughout the world. Programs include the Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity Awards, which provide cash grants for head-of-household women seeking to improve their lives with the help of education and training. Each year, more than $1 million is disbursed through this award-winning program. Soroptimist also sponsors the Live Your Dream campaign in recognition of the power of women and their dreams. Visit the campaign's online home at: <LliveYourDreamCampaign.org>. A 501(c)(3) organization, Soroptimist is a recipient of the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations’ Seal of Excellence. For more information on how Soroptimist improves the lives of women and girls, visit <Soroptimist.org>.

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