A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners. Presenting Season 7, Episode 8 of the #MeettheMancunian #podcast #GM #manchester #women #children #SocialImpact #NonProfit. Hosted by Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe. (https://www.instagram.com/meetthemancunian/).   In the eighth episode, the Meet the Mancunian podcast interviews Fiona Spencer, Vice President, Soroptomist International Manchester Club, about how they support women and girls in UK and in India to reach their full potential. Fiona introduces how she got involved with Soroptomist as an ophthalmologist and introduces the charities the Manchester club supports which include Women Matter, Manchester Action in Street Health, Cornerstone, Pankhurst Trust and refuges in Manchester. Fiona talks about their efforts to support a hospital for leprosy patients and an orphanage in Orissa, India. Fiona emphasises collaboration and harnessing the power of the community.   Did you know? This episode is being released ahead of International Women’s Day, 8 March 2024. International Women's Day (IWD) is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. Each year, this day serves as a powerful reminder of the progress made towards gender equality and highlights the work that still needs to be done. In 2024, the theme Inspire Inclusion emphasises the importance of diversity and empowerment in all aspects of society.   Key resources Soroptomist International   Timestamps of key moments in the podcast episode and transcript   (02:15) Fiona's Passion for Supporting Women and Children (03:23) Introduction to Soroptomist International (04:54) Local Initiatives and Projects in Manchester (10:10) Challenges and Call for Volunteers (11:43) Impact of Soroptomist's Work (13:42) International Projects and Initiatives (19:57) How to get involved with Soroptomist (22:41) Closing Thoughts and Future Plans   Listen to the episode and read the transcript on www.meetthemancunian.co.uk