Approximately two years after becoming chartered as a part of Soroptimist International-a group dedicated to the empowerment of young women-Newtown Trinidad's Soroptimist International group continues its effort to fulfill its mandate. Last Friday evening the group hosted its second fund-raiser at the Little Carib Theatre in Woodbrook, with the staging of the highly-acclaimed Miss Miles-The Woman of the World, written and directed by veteran actor and playwright Tony Hall. The first was a mixer held at Rosco's on Ariapita Avenue, in June. The group's public relations officer, Nneka St Rose, says Miss Miles is felt to be on par with Soroptimist International Newtown Trinidad's (SINT) vision and mission and it was an apt way to raise funds for their charter.
The talented Cecilia Salazar, as Gene Miles, infected an almost packed Little Carib Theatre with her ability to put on a full-length play all by herself. Much like when it received rave reviews when it opened some months ago, the thought-provoking play about a woman who daringly took on the powerful state administration in an anti-corruption campaign dubbed the Gas Station Racket of the 60s was well received. The play recollects the life of Miles, from growing up in pre-independence, colonial, Roman Catholic Trinidad to the early 1970s when a struggle to develop a new and fair society gave rise to social transformation. It ends with her natural death at the age of 42. "We've gotten a great reception and many people were really interested in seeing the play," St Rose said. Over the years SINT has been working with the young women at Sophia House, a home in Port-of-Spain that caters to the needs of young women ages 11 to 17. Proceeds from the events will go toward a mentorship programme for the girls. "We are one of six chapters of Soroptimists in Trinidad but what is interesting is that we are the youngest set of Soroptimists. The other chapters are now looking to us, to revive soroptimism."
St Rose says many people think soroptimism is about women sitting around drinking tea, rather than a group of young professionals like those in the Newtown chapter. "The fact is that most of the people in our age group are not necessarily ready or willing to take that step into volunteerism, but the reality is that this has become a network-a sisterhood," she said. Each person in the Newtown chapter, she says, is equipped with skills, knowledge and insight that are imparted to the young women at Sophia House. "There are Soroptimist Trinidad chapters in Chaguanas, St Augustine and San Fernando and they are made up of more mature women who have been mentoring us and moulding us. In fact, many of their daughters belong to the Newtown chapter." With one Saturday per month set aside for mentoring the disenfranchised young women, St Rose says the overall aim of the Newtown chapter is to inspire these young women to be great and to empower them to reach for that greatness.
