Zonta Club of Dhaka II sees the impact of preventing child marriage through a club service project

December 14, 2018December 20, 2021Zonta International Leave a comment

ZSN Dhaka II

During the 16 Days of Activism, Zonta International, as well as many clubs, focused on ending child marriage. For one club in Dhaka, this focus aligned with a current project from which they have seen success for two local girls.

Through a club-wide service project, members of the Zonta Club of Dhaka II, District 25, have supported two girls in changing their lives after avoiding the pressures of child marriage.

Mohsina Akhtar and Shoma Islam are two young women from remote villages of Bangladesh and both participate in Shathi Samaj, an education project by the Zonta Club of Dhaka II.

Mohsina Akhtar

While studying, Mohsina Akhtar was forced to get married and her in-laws did not let her continue with her studies. Mohsina underwent both mental and physical abuse during this time. Mohsina reached out to the Zonta club for counseling and advice. With the support of the club members, she was able to leave her marriage and go back to her studies. She is now a student at the University of Dhaka, studying finance. She hopes to become a chartered accountant.

Shoma Islam

When she was young, Shoma Islam was under pressure to discontinue her studies to get married. However, with the help of the members of the club, Shoma is now a 4th-year student of home economics at the University of Dhaka and is doing very well. She is also currently working with a renowned NGO in Dhaka and is also continuing her studies in food and nutrition. She has a dream of becoming a nutritionist.

Members of the Zonta Club of Dhaka II plan to be by their sides until they fulfill their dreams.

ZSN Dhaka II 2 Board members of Zonta Club of Dhaka II

Zonta club members unite during the 16 Days of Activism

December 13, 2018December 20, 2021Zonta International Leave a comment

From 25 November to 10 December, during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, Zonta club members embraced the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign and advocated to end violence against women and child marriage in their communities.

Watch the video below to see a few examples of how club members said NO during the campaign.

Students in Denmark say NO to violence against women

December 4, 2018December 20, 2021Zonta International Leave a comment

Inspired by the ZontaSaysNo campaign, the Danish District 13 Zonta clubs of Viborg, Silkeborg, Aarhus and Aarhus II invited upper secondary schools in their respective cities to discuss the topic of equal rights and respect between the sexes.

More than 150 students at seven upper secondary schools said yes to the invitation. During the course of November, they spent

many lessons in English, Danish, social studies or drama working on subjects such as how to say no to physical or mental abuse, how to have ethical behavior on social media, and learning about bullying and mental terror. They also learned about sexist stereotyping and other related topics.

The result was a series of inspiring essays, poems, short stories, video productions, social studies papers and plays. The students presented many of these products on stage to an enthusiastic audience on 24 November at VIA University College in Aarhus.

The Zonta club members said they are grateful to the students for their thought-provoking responses and reflections. Members said the contributions from the students strengthen their faith in humanity and show them clearly just how aware young people are about these issues and about how important it is to say no to physical and mental violence and to fight for gender equality.

Zonta Club of Charlevoix Area takes donations from community members to build 16 Days display

November 26, 2018December 20, 2021Zonta International Leave a comment

The Zonta Club of Charlevoix Area members from District 15 are raising awareness about the issue of domestic violence with their Zonta Shoe Tree.

The Shoe Tree, currently on display in a prominent Charlevoix, Michigan location through 10 December, features 183 pair of shoes. Each pair represents one of the 183 victims of domestic violence or assault in the Charlevoix community in 2017.

The Zonta Shoe Tree serves as a public reminder that while each of the 183 victims put their shoes on and walk through their day just like everyone else, they live with violence.

Residents generously donated 183 pair of shoes and Charlevoix businesses and the local high school served as drop-off locations.

An area Girl Scout Troop joined Zonta members in painting the shoes orange, marched with members in the Holiday Parade and assisted in decorating the Shoe Tree.

By inviting the local community to donate shoes and help build the shoe tree, Zonta members and community members actively participated in an open discussion about the issue of domestic violence.

3 ways to prepare for the 16 Days of Activism

November 24, 2018December 20, 2021Zonta International Leave a comment

Spread the word and say NO! Like, share and comment! Tomorrow starts the #16Days of Activism.

Here are three things that you can do to take part in the 2018 Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign:

0_3 things you can do before the 16 Days of Activism (7)

Zonta Club of Lulea raises awareness with local library display

November 21, 2018December 20, 2021Zonta International Leave a comment

ZC of Lulea

To raise awareness of violence against women, the Zonta Club of Lulea, District 21, collaborated with their local library, the City Library of Pitea. In the center of the library, the club set up a display to showcase books and movies focused on violence against women.

Club members said they think facts are important, but if you really want to reach people you have to appeal to their emotions. Books and movies do that. This is why the Zontians chose to collaborate with the library on the display.

With an exhibition in full view from the entrance of the library, they want to encourage the visitors to read and watch stories about survivors of violence against women. This is also in line with the theme chosen by UN Women this year, #HearMeToo.

A presentation was also given to the staff about how gender-based violence impacts women all over the world. Because of this, they are now ready to answer questions from the public about the exhibition and violence against women.

In the News: Zonta Club of Kankakee organizes empowerment and solidarity walk

August 14, 2018December 20, 2021Zonta International Leave a comment

The Zonta Club of Kankakee is spreading awareness about domestic violence by inviting survivors and sympathizers to walk in solidarity with those who have endured abuse.

Empowerment: Solidarity Walk with Domestic Violence Victims will take place on October 27. Participants have the option of walking individually, with a team or even virtually.

Club members hope the event will give people a chance to reflect on domestic violence in their community.

Click here to read more.

Zonta Club of Lebanon reflects on 2017 walk, plans upcoming event

August 6, 2018December 20, 2021Zonta International Leave a comment

The Zonta Club of Lebanon was pleased to host the 2017 Area 4 Zonta Says NO Advocacy Walk in Lebanon’s beautiful Memorial Park and plans to host the 2018 Advocacy Walk in Indianapolis in October.

The third annual walk was held in October and allowed clubs and concerned individuals to gather to advocate against domestic violence. The walk was held in Memorial Park in Lebanon. Zontians and Z-Club students from all over Area 4 were present to walk to raise awareness of the dangers of domestic violence.

A representative from the mayor’s office spoke and welcomed participants and then Pascal Fettig from Mental Health America Boone County spoke on things being done in Boone County to address violence against women.

After a brief warmup, the walkers carried signs and posters along a state highway and around the park. Cars were honking their horns and people were waving encouragingly.

At the main corner of the park, the Zonta clubs from Indiana had their Zonta Says NO posters posted next to orange pinwheels. Each pinwheel represents a life that was lost due to domestic violence.

The group advertises the walk at an event earlier in the fall. At the event, Lebanon’s Lincoln and Civil War Reenactment, the club pairs with the Boone County Historial Society to sell food at the event.

This provides the members, as well as the Z Club students, an opportunity to fundraise and advertise their upcoming advocacy event.

Zonta Club of Johnson County hosts 5K to raise money to prevent domestic violence

May 10, 2018December 20, 2021Zonta International Leave a comment

ZC of Johnson County Members of the Zonta Club of Johnson County in Texas hosted their third annual Zonta Zoom Race to End Domestic Violence 5k and 1k Fun Run as part of the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women.

Zontians have partnered with the Johnson County Family Crisis Center to host the event and a portion of the proceeds went to benefit current residents of the Johnson County Family Crisis Center.

Residents from the center assisted in decorating paper dolls that lined the route. Each doll represented a woman who had died as a result of domestic violence in Texas in that year. Sadly, there were 146 dolls lining the course.

Additionally, there was a shoe display at the starting line for the participants to see. Each pair of shoes represented a victim of domestic violence in the state of Texas for the year.

Participants were given t-shirts, snacks and breakfast for participating, as well as finisher medals for top placement.

Club members said they feel this event helps raise awareness for not only the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign, but the issue of domestic violence in general. Club members are proud of this event being so successful year after year.

Zonta Club of Rockhampton Inc advertises Zonta Says NO during local event

May 9, 2018December 20, 2021Zonta International Leave a comment

ZC of Rockhampton Inc 3

During Beef Australia 2018, Australia’s triennial National Beef Industry event attracting over 100,000 national and international visitors, the Zonta Club of Rockhampton Inc, District 22, mounted a display at the local regional airport, raising awareness for the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign.

The display prominently provides awareness about the campaign, as well as information about local support services for those affected by domestic and family violence.

The display will run for the whole month of May, which also coincides with the local Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month, which is marked every May in Queensland Australia.