Following the recent media report and allegations of sexual abuse of some female students at the Obuasi Senior High Technical School in the Ashanti Region, the Zonta Clubs of Ghana have called on the Ministry of Education to protect girls and hold sexual abusers accountable.
Zonta in a press statement indicated that the sexual abuse of girls — minors entrusted to the care of schools — by some male teachers and headteachers is a “grave betrayal of trust, authority, and the fundamental duty of care.”
On 5 September, members of the Zonta Club of Makati Legaspi, Philippines, spent an afternoon with girls at the Laura Vicuña Foundation for a special art session. What began as an opportunity to learn painting became an afternoon of creativity, hope and new discoveries.
For many of the girls, it was their first time painting. Some were unsure at the beginning, saying they had never painted before and did not know if they could do it. With encouragement from the art teachers, they followed a demonstration step by step. By the end of the session, they had created paintings of their own and were pleasantly surprised by the results.
The beach-themed paintings prompted the girls to share dreams of visiting Boracay and traveling around the world, imagining places they hoped to visit and experiences they looked forward to having.
The visit also gave members an opportunity to learn about the foundation’s work through conversations with the sisters. Established in 1990, the Laura Vicuña Foundation supports children in need of special protection, including girls who have experienced or are at risk of abuse, trafficking and exploitation. Through its Journey of Hope program, the foundation helps children regain confidence and develop skills to build better futures.
The girls prepared special song and dance performances for the visitors, moving some members to tears. The afternoon continued with merienda, conversations and the distribution of small gifts.
The visit reflected the club’s support for Zonta International’s priority of ending violence against women and girls. Beyond protection from abuse and exploitation, the activity encouraged girls to recognize their worth, build confidence and explore opportunities to learn and grow.
Members hoped the girls would keep their paintings as reminders that they can learn new things, discover unexpected abilities and continue to dream about their futures. For the club, the visit was a simple but meaningful opportunity to connect with the girls and support the foundation’s work.
The Zonta Club of Parker County, USA, appeared before the Parker County Commissioners’ Court to request approval for a special display at the County Courthouse Annex during Zonta International’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence on 25 November to 10 December.
The Commissioners’ Court unanimously approved the request, supporting the club’s efforts to raise awareness of domestic violence in Parker County.
The display will feature shoes symbolizing local domestic violence cases, orange ribbons representing the campaign to end violence against women, and signs highlighting Zonta’s work to build a better world for women and girls. Through this display, the club hopes to spark conversations, increase awareness, and encourage community action to end gender-based violence.
Club members attended the meeting wearing Zonta Orange are (left to right) Donna Couch, Belinda Dickard, Vicky Palmer, Tanya Hodges and Kim Mendolia.
The Zonta e-Club of Taiwan created “Take Off the Mask,” a free, bilingual online game designed to raise awareness of hidden forms of abuse ahead of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
The game uses Halloween monsters to represent abuse that can hide behind love, including a vampire symbolizing emotional manipulation, a ghost representing the silent treatment, a werewolf depicting verbal abuse, a mummy illustrating control and isolation, and a hidden mirror representing digital abuse.
Players can break each mask with three taps or by shaking their heads “no,” revealing a pledge, three warning signs and resources for seeking help.
Designed for all ages, from teenagers to grandparents, the game features large text, local helplines and easy sharing through LINE, WhatsApp and QR codes. Sister clubs abroad also joined a global relay to expand the campaign’s reach.
In Taiwan, where relationship abuse is often treated as a private family matter, the initiative encourages open conversations across generations. By helping women and girls recognize forms of abuse that do not always leave physical marks, the club hopes to empower them to seek help and live free from fear.
Each shared pledge includes #ZontaSaysNO, bringing Zonta’s advocacy to new audiences and reinforcing its mission to build a better world for women and girls.
In recognition of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Zonta Club members are planning the Club’s eighth annual Domestic Violence Awareness event at 10 a.m. Oct. 3 at 2323 Ring Road in Elizabethtown, the former First Federal Bank building and the future home of Elizabethtown City Hall.
Special guest is Sofie, a 12-year-old pit-mix, who has performed therapy dog services since 2016. Sofie is part of the Victim Services Program with Elizabethtown Police Department, which started in 2023. Sofie will be accompanied by Victim Service Specialist Anesha Knott, who runs the program.
Knott will speak at the event and share about the impact of the program on domestic violence survivors.
The Victim Services Program was started with the idea that victims would be more comfortable talking to someone other than an officer. With the help of Sofie, in addition to building trust, she provides information, addresses immediate safety needs and even assist in finding pet care, etc. Knott works with the victim through the investigation process and court proceedings. She has assisted more than 160 victims in the past year.
As part of the event, participants will walk along the sidewalk waving domestic violence prevention signs and bring awareness to the issue. Those signs will be posted along the road in front of the building and extend past the Derm Specialist building during October.
For information about Zonta, go to zontainternational.org, Facebook or for membership, text Linda Funk at 270-307-2858. Meeting location may vary at times but typically are the fourth Thursday evening at Shoney’s with dinner at 5:30 p.m. and meeting at 6 p.m.
On behalf of the Zonta Club of the Coos Bay Area, a member of Zonta International, we would like to publicly thank Coos County Sheriff Gabe Fabrizio, Coos County District Attorney Jody Newby, retired District Attorney Paula Frasier, and their staffs for their investigation, arrests, and subsequent prosecution of six Coos County adults charged with various offenses involving child sexual abuse.
Zonta International has worked for more than 100 years to end all forms of violence against women and girls. We applaud these dedicated public servants for their hard work and commitment to protecting children and pursuing justice. We sincerely appreciate their efforts and service to our community.
More than 1 million women and girls in Oregon—more than half of the state’s female population—have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault in their lifetimes, according to state findings cited in the Count Her In report.
We invite our community to Join Zonta from November 25 through December 10 in observing the international 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign. Together, we can shed light on this local, statewide, and international issue, raise awareness, support survivors, and work toward a future free from violence against women and girls.
Thank you to those who work every day to protect our children, support survivors, and bring perpetrators to justice.
As the Zonta Club plans for the annual domestic violence awareness event to be held Saturday, Oct. 3, club members welcomed guest speaker, Public Relations Officer John Thomas from the Elizabethtown Police Department. He explained the work of the Domestic Violence Victim Services Specialist Anesha Knott, who was hired in 2024.
The Victim Services Program was started with the idea that victims would be more comfortable talking to her than an officer. In addition to building trust she provides information, addresses immediate safety needs, helps with food needs, clothing, transportation, moving to a new place, medical care and even assist in finding pet care, etc. Knott works with the victim through the investigation process and court proceedings. She has assisted more than 160 victims in the past year.
The Zonta Club has invited Knott to speak at the awareness event and to share about the impact of the program on domestic violence survivors.
The Zonta motto is “Building a Better World for Women and Girls” through advocacy and community service. The club is part of Zonta International with membership of like minded professionals from diverse countries and cultures.
The Zonta Club Osnabrück Westfälischer Friede, Germany, funded a school workshop, “Violence Is Not an Option,” at the Westerberg Vocational School, encouraging students to examine what constitutes violence and how it can be prevented.
Moderated by coach and Zonta member Debbie Stoll, the project brought together 11th-grade students from the school’s social pedagogy program to explore questions such as: When does a joke become violence? Why do people become violent? How can individuals respond to violence?
Students, primarily ages 17 to 20, discussed their experiences and perceptions of violence at school and considered possible strategies for addressing it. They then created posters and interactive activities to encourage their peers to reflect on the issue.
On the second day of the project, participants shared what they had learned with students from a parallel class. Through five workshops, they presented their discussions and reflections in their own words and encouraged their classmates to continue the conversation.
Students explored both physical and psychological violence, noting that while physical violence may be easier to recognize, psychological violence can take forms such as social exclusion, discrimination, bullying and other harmful behavior, including behavior carried out through mobile phones and digital platforms.
The discussions also highlighted how perceptions can differ. What one person considers a joke may already cross a boundary for another. Students considered possible causes of violence and discussed how empathy, listening and open dialogue can help prevent conflicts from escalating.
Participants also explored strategies for managing conflict, including seeking dialogue with the support of a neutral person when necessary and identifying healthy ways to manage emotions and stress.
The project received positive feedback, with participants expressing interest in continuing it during the new school year. Detective Chief Inspector Melanie Stolze and an intern from the prevention team of the Osnabrück Police Inspectorate attended as observers and are considering adapting the project for police trainees.
On 28 August, the Zonta Club of Dhaka IV, Bangladesh, collaborated with the BUET Artista Society “Charcoal” to host an art camp themed “Safe Spaces” in the capital.
The joint initiative sought to amplify Zonta’s mission of building a better world for women and girls through visual storytelling. Designed to challenge societal norms, the camp provided a platform for young artists to raise public awareness and advocate against violence targeting women.
Through thought-provoking artwork depicting shelter, liberation and collective healing, participants highlighted the need to create safe spaces and a society where women and girls can live free from fear and violence.
The Zonta Club of Dhaka III, Bangladesh, launched Nirvoy Nari, a nine-month initiative focused on protecting adolescent girls from sexual harassment and abuse and empowering them to understand and exercise their rights.
The project officially launched on 19 August at Safura Khatun Pilot Girls High School in Siddhirganj in partnership with Survivors Path Foundation. The club signed memorandums of understanding with the school and foundation to support the initiative.
Nirvoy Nari aims to raise awareness of girls’ rights, strengthen their confidence and create a safe, respectful and supportive environment where they can live and learn without fear.
Over nine months, approximately 200 students will participate in awareness workshops, educational sessions and training programs. Participants will learn to recognize unsafe situations, respond to harassment or injustice, seek help and support others.
The launch was chaired by Zonta Club of Dhaka III President Nasreen Khan and attended by club members, community leaders and partners.
“A woman will not live in fear. A woman will not live with her head down. A woman will not live without knowing her rights,” Khan said. “And from that belief, today begins our nine-month journey — Nirvoy Nari.”
Through the project, the club seeks to transform awareness into action and empower girls to speak up for their rights, helping create a future where every girl can grow, learn and dream with safety and dignity.
