Date: 1-3 May, 2019
Location: University of Ruse, Bulgaria
Club Ruse of the international women’s organisation Soroptimist International is a host and organiser of an international conference Soroptimists along the Danube stand up for Europe by Networking, which will be held at the University of Ruse on 2-3 May, 2019.The conference is co-organised by the long-term partner club SI Ulm-Donaustadt, Germany and unites more than 40 representatives of the Soroptimist organisation from Germany, Austria, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova and Belgium.
At 2nd of May guests and plenary speakers at the conference will be Ms. Gerda Rosiers, Chair of the Extension Committee of SI Europe and member of SI Visé, Belgium, and Prof. Rumiana Stoilova from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia.They will present to the delegates some historical milestones from the development of the women’s movement in Europe and in the Danube region, as well as talk about the equal rights of women and men in all professional and life situations today which face our communities in all countries, and the opportunities to overcome discrimination through active social inclusion and mutual support.
After the plenary session the work will continue in working groups, where the opportunities for collaboration in the fields of Social welfare and Health, Environment, Culture and Education will be discussed.In a special workshop “Europe”, a statement will be developed on behalf of the participants in support of united Europe and the Europe Elections in May 2019.
The second day of the conference will start with a Round table Plea for Europe: Why a common Europe is important for women and why it is important to vote in the European Elections on 23 – 26 May 2019. After approval, the common Appeal will be disseminated by the delegates in their respective clubs and communities.
At the end of the conference, the delegates will visit one of the projects of SI Club Ruse “Bread connects our memories and our dreams”, implemented in partnership with Association DANET, academic student club “Young social pedagogue” with the University of Ruse and the Centres for work with children in the street and for family type accommodation.
Carmen Stadelhofer