ZONTA SAYS NO CAMPAIGN IN DISTRICT 17

During the 16 Days of Activism, District 17 has turned orange!

The District 17’s ZONTA SAYS NO campaign has achieved excellent success. Each of the 6 Areas supported the campaign ardently, culminating into three-weekend activities around the territories of Phillipines, Hong Kong & Bangkok. So far we know that about 90% of our clubs have organized/participated in ZSN activities, this figure may grow with more reports coming in!

Highlights included a Walk & Talk with Zonta organized by Area 1 in Manila on November 24.  About 200 Zontians, Golden Z & Z Club members took part in this meaningful walk. The area of Greenhills has turned orange with Zontian tee-shirts, giant banners, and advocacy cry of ‘Zonta Says No’. The ZSN seminar that followed was opened by AD Daisy Arce, with key note speaker Senator Cynthia Villar, DG Winnie Teoh & D17 Advocacy Chair Lynn Alentajin. The activity provided the beginning of other clubs’ own 16 day activism programme.

The 6 Zonta Clubs in Hong Kong, Area 2 started early on December 8, with one hour interview on prestigious radio show on Commercial Radio. DG & Zonta team was interviewed immediately afterwards on Radio Hong Kong, reaching a total of over 1 million Hong Kong radio listeners through these 2 programmes. Two trams brightly decorated with ZSN message, balloons & signage, accompanied by cries of NO TO VIOLENCE Against Women, travelled through the business streets & was seen by an estimated 200,000 Hong Kong citizens. Special newspapers coverage in 9 dailies have called attention to VAW with readership of 2.5 million. We have managed to raise visibility of ZONTA & awareness of women rights & VAW in a big way.

In Cebu, Area 3 established over 10 giant ZSN banners at prominent locations, and outdoor TV messages broadcasting 72 times a day. The ZSN Forum on November 25 was participated by about 500 participants representing 20 organizations. DG Winnie Teoh, AD3 Anita Sanchez & CP of Cebu 1 Lucille Colina was interviewed in a one-hour programme on Skycable TV hosted by well-known media personality Bobit Avila. Cebu City & Cebu Province has declared November as the Zonta month, and this is a great recognition of ZONTA’s contribution to the community.

Area 4 organized a press conference in Laoag on November 22 participated by 1 TV station, 2 national print, & 4 radio stations and much coverage & awareness on VAW has resulted. Location banners & 2 ZSN forums were organized. Their signature campaign has acquired the endorsement of 16,000 signatures including leading government officials Governor of Laoag Imee Marcos, City Major of Laoag Chevylle Farinas, as well as other community leaders, interested citizens & students.

Area 5 conducted a ZSN seminar in Manila on November 23 with DG Winnie Teoh, Cecile Oebanda, ED of Visayan Forum & Hon Elisa Flores, Judge, Regional Trail Court Branch 17 as speakers. We have called attention to the suffering of the VAW victims, and highlighted various laws protecting the women in the Philippines. The ZONTA group then proceed to the lit up of ZSN message on the giant globe at Mall of Asia in Manila. The ZSN message was seen by many pedestrians & passing cars in metro Manila region.

Area 6 participated in a booth showcasing ZI/VAW activities of 14 clubs at an event in Bangkok, organized by Ministry of Social Development & Human Security. The resulting video clip was broadcasted nationally on TV. ZC of Bangkok 2 conducted a whistle campaign with 32 organizations, & ZC Bangkok I organized a massive motorcade on November 1 with 100 vans carrying ZSN slogans travelling in the city of Bangkok! AD6 Palarp Sinhaseni was interviewed in half hour TV programme with audience of 50,000. Much creditability & visibility have been achieved!

The ZSN campaign will not end with the 15 days activism. It has provided us with a platform to highlight the magnitude of VAW. Under the leadership of AD Linda Wang, Area 2 has just concluded 6 VAW projects with member NGOs through the co-ordination of the Hong Kong Council of Social Services. A first in the history of ZONTA in Hong Kong!

Let us continue our good work for VAW & women empowerment for the rest of the biennium!