The Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI) conference is being held in Edinburgh from 1 to 3 November, bringing together women leaders, activists and volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds to discuss themes such as education and capacity building, culminating in the presentation of awards to the winners on Sunday 3 November. This event is a truly global forum for promoting gender equality and defending human rights, missions that are dear to the hearts of the 65,000 members of Soroptimist, an organisation that has been active for over a century.
This year’s guest of honour is Dr Debora Kayembe, former President of the University of Edinburgh and the first black woman to hold this position in the institution’s 400-year history. Her exemplary career, marked by challenges overcome with resilience and perseverance, embodies the values of Soroptimist, a movement dedicated to equal opportunities and strengthening the role of women in society.
A committed and emotional opening
Yesterday, Friday 1 November, the conference kicked off at 1.30pm in a vibrant atmosphere, with colourful flags representing SIGBI member nations. Dr Debora Kayembe took the floor at 2pm, immediately capturing the audience’s attention with a tribute to the victims of the recent floods in Spain, a sign of her international solidarity and commitment to ecological and humanitarian issues.
In her speech, she celebrated the progress made by women around the world, mentioning in particular the historic appointment of a woman to the British Treasury, a first in the country’s history. She also spoke of the prospects for the American elections, in which Kamala Harris could become the first woman President of the United States.
Education as a pillar of change
In line with the theme of the day, Dr. Debora Kayembe stressed the importance of education, calling for excellent training for girls and women, to strengthen their place in strategic decisions and leadership positions. ‘The secret of success is education. You have to train again and again until you are the best in your field’, she declared, stressing the need to invest in education to create strong female leaders capable of transforming the world.
Debora Kayembe perfectly embodies the message of Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland, or SIGBI for short. Starting from scratch after being forced to leave her country, the DRC, she has risen through the ranks to become a symbol of inspiration for all women, especially those facing challenges.
In sharing her journey, Dr. Debora Kayembe posed a thought-provoking question to the audience: ‘Are we leading the world?’ To which she replied, ‘Women can do anything.’ These words were received as a universal call for every woman to recognise, harness and maximise her potential, transforming her difficulties into stepping stones to invaluable achievements.
The first day ended in a wonderful atmosphere, a reminder that Soroptimism is a force for good in the service of equality and progress. Indeed, this 90th conference in Edinburgh is a wonderful illustration of the spirit of solidarity and transformation that unites SIGBI members.
Dr Kayembe’s speech served as a powerful preamble to two other days devoted to capacity-building and the recognition of prize-winners. She congratulated the participants in advance on their achievements, expressing her hope that these efforts would lead to a world where ‘women will make this a better place to live’.
In this way, the conference serves not only as a reminder of how far women have come, but also of the infinite possibilities that lie ahead when women support and uplift each other.
