By Theckla Gunga – EM TV News, Port Moresby
Since 2000, non-governmental organisations have emerged in the Pacific to voice and improve the manner in which women and girls are treated in communities.
While some focus on increasing women’s economic opportunities, others focus on self-development.
Soroptimist International (SI) is one such organisation that focuses on giving women a formal education.
SI President, Seema Dass Raju, said formal education and self-empowerment for women are just two areas Soroptimist International is engaged in, providing women an opportunity to develop themselves as individuals.
“We go into settlement areas and speak to women, interview them and if they want to be financial independent than we support them financially,” Raju said.
The international organisation targets women in suburban areas who are passionate about becoming independent, and supports them financially through educational institutional.
Soroptimist International – Papua New Guinea has almost 70 women members who meet once a month and discuss how best they can achieve equal opportunities for women and girls in the economic, social or education sectors.
Since being established in PNG, the organisation has primarily focused on primary and secondary education.
However, SI is planning on supporting women and girls through tertiary education, come 2016.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=3yHkaqLyl9I%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
