Soroptimist International’s 3 key words are educate, empower & enable.

Education is the key to unlocking economic empowerment.

Research shows that When Women are educated:

  • families live healthier lives (Source: Population Reference Bureau)
  • their daughters are more likely to be enrolled in school and to reach higher levels of education (Source: Population Reference Bureau)
  • their countries are more likely to have greater economic growth (Source: World Bank)

At an SI Board meeting in 2016, the decision was made that SI would concentrate on Advocacy and the that the Federations would concentrate on programs. The exception was the President’s Appeal, a SI-wide program that is now under the banner of the Soroptimist Foundation.

The 2 overlap and Federations do advocacy on many issues affecting women and girls.

SIA clubs had been giving out LYD Awards since 1972. They have been called other names, e.g. Women’s Opportunity Award.

What it is:  Live Your Dream Awards are a unique education award for women who provide the primary financial support for their families. Recipients may use the cash award to offset any costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education, such as books, childcare, tuition and transportation.

Every year, Soroptimist distributes more than $2.9 million in education awards to over 2,000 women all over the world. Over half of our recipients are survivors of domestic violence, trafficking or sexual assault. Nearly all of the women and families we serve have overcome enormous obstacles including poverty, teen pregnancy, and drug or alcohol addiction. 

The Process:

  • all applications go through an online portal to SIA HQ, where they get distributed by postal code to clubs
  • “orphan” applications – those from women not near a club in Western Canada – come to SICWO, except for Saskatchewan applications, which all go to SI Saskatoon. Based on the last 2 years, we could get 15 – 17 applications
  • The Soroptimist Foundation of Canada provides $1000 for each orphan application
  • The portal closes on November 15
  • All applications have to be reviewed by the club LYD committee for eligibility
  • then they are passed to our judges – so we need to recruit 3 judges and have them sign the confidentiality agreement
  • We notify all applicants of their status and send the information to HQ by Feb 15
  • We distribute funds and celebrate the winners. Ideally the winners sign a media consent form and we can share part of their story through social media and press releases

All the recipients say the money is great, and what is more meaningful is that this group of amazing women believes in them.

Questions? Contact Live Your Dream Award Committee