"Open Heart - Open Door"

 

Five years ago Sl of Europe started a wonderful friendship programme in the International Goodwill and Understanding area.  It covers two of our objectives in a wonderful way:

v      to develop a spirit of friendship and unity among Soroptimists of all countries and

v      to contribute to international understanding and universal friendship.

 

What is this programme? It is an invitation to take part in five diverse possibilities:

  1. Soroptimists who may not like or are not able to travel but like to feel our international network, can offer home hospitality to one or two Soroptimists. In this way they also have the possibility to speak about their projects, hear of other projects or ways of life. Of course the main reason is to feel the friendship.

  2. On the other hand there are Soroptimists who like to travel; not as tourists but living and feeling "at home" in a foreign country.  They could have the chance to be invited as a guest of a Soroptimist. The hosting Soroptimist provides a room and a bathroom but not more.  However, she will surely be happy to help with information about her area. As we all know we are professional women and have little spare time.  So nobody must expect "hotel service" The main idea is to just have the opportunity of being in a private home for a short period, and finding friends for a lifetime It is important not to take too much advantage but rather to create a friendship and feeling of real sisterhood.

  3. There is also a combination of the possibilities, by taking part in an exchange programme or even in -

  4. Exchange of houses or flats or holiday apartments at the same time (so your home is looked after) or in case you have a second home. - at different periods

  5. The fifth possibility allows the children, nieces or nephews, grandchildren of Soroptimists to take part in a youth exchange programme. You can be sure as mother, aunt, grandmother that your child will be well cared for. The idea of the programme is of course in exchange to offer home hospitality for a young person.

Details of this project can be found on the SI/E homepage on the Internet or can be obtained from the following address- Lisbeth Hass, Hojvangs All’e 55b, 6700 Esbjerg,- Denmark, tlf + 45 75 13 87 25. e-mail lisbeth.hass@rosendahls.dk. If you (want to participate in this programme. please fill out a form and send money for the postage = Dkr, 7,-or DM 15. - or £6. - or US D 15, - Ffr 65,- Cfr. 20 - or the equivalent, then you will get the list of participants - Or Ask to get the list on e-mail

 

When you have the list please contact your partners yourself.

 

You may copy this list to other Soroptimists, but only if they themselves will take part in the Open Heart - Open Door programme and will offer to be a host or a guide.

Please see this list as a confidential document.

 The success of the Open Heart-Open Door” programme has proved so great that there are now more than 625 participating Soroptimists in over 50 countries (Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, U.S.A. (Alaska), California, Florida, Nevada, Oregon, Virginia, Washington).

 

 The big Soroptimist family welcomes you!