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.

During the 2025 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence, the Zonta Club of Central Goldfields Inc, Australia, launched an awareness campaign centered on the message “R for Respect.” Local cafes, government offices and private organizations received takeaway coffee cups featuring messages designed to encourage conversations about respect and healthy relationships.

Through the campaign, the club sought to challenge harmful attitudes, encourage open dialogue and help build a more informed and supportive community. By placing advocacy messages on an everyday item, members were able to bring conversations about preventing gender-based violence into community spaces.

The project was made possible through the support of Community Bank Avoca, Maryborough and St Arnaud Bendigo Bank.

Following the campaign’s success, the club has shared information about the initiative with other Zonta clubs in District 23 interested in bringing the “R for Respect” message to their own communities.

The Zonta Club of Central Goldfields plans to continue the campaign during the 2026 16 Days of Activism, building on its efforts to promote respect and encourage community action to end gender-based violence.

In celebration of World Breastfeeding Week, the Zonta Club of Metro Greenhills, Philippines, conducted a breastfeeding webinar, bringing together 111 participants, including mothers, expectant parents, doctors, nurses, midwives and community advocates.

The webinar highlighted that breastfeeding is more than a health practice, but an investment in stronger families and safer communities.

The sessions addressed common concerns that often discourage mothers from breastfeeding, including Unang Yakap (a protocol for newborn care in the Philippines that uses four steps right after birth to save infant lives), overcoming low milk supply, and relactation. Participants also explored evidence-based approaches that dispelled long-held myths and cultural practices, replacing fear and uncertainty with confidence and practical solutions. Mothers were encouraged to trust their bodies, seek support when challenges arise and recognize that every breastfeeding journey is unique.

The webinar emphasized that responsive caregiving and early parent-child bonding help build trust and open communication within families. While breastfeeding alone does not prevent violence, nurturing relationships can become important protective factors that help children feel safe to speak up, reducing their vulnerability to abuse, including online sexual abuse and exploitation of children.

Beyond providing complete nutrition and immunity, breastfeeding also eases the financial burden on families by reducing dependence on costly formula milk.

Participants were challenged to become advocates by sharing the webinar’s messages with other families and healthcare professionals.

Love Smart, Live Safe

Share an Opportunity (SOA) Philippines conducted “Love Smart, Live Safe,” a webinar designed to equip young people with practical tools to develop healthy relationships, recognize and communicate boundaries, prevent violence and become advocates for positive change.

Through the Zonta Club of Metro Greenhill’s partnership with SOA, they are helping promote a culture in which respect, personal boundaries and safety become part of everyday relationships.

The importance of the discussion became clear when a participant shared the experience of a mother who attended the webinar and recognized unhealthy patterns in her own relationships. Her boundaries with siblings and friends had gradually disappeared, something she had previously considered normal. The session helped her view those relationships differently and feel more confident about establishing healthier boundaries.

Together, the webinars demonstrate how education and advocacy can give individuals practical tools to strengthen relationships, make informed choices and help prevent violence.

For the 16 Days of Activism, the Zonta Club of Ibadan II, Nigeria, planned a lineup of advocacy activities designed to engage the public, carried out media publicity efforts and distributed awareness jingles to raise awareness on violence against women.

The Zonta Club of Riverside, USA, recently held an impactful community outreach as part of The SOAP Project, an initiative dedicated to combating human trafficking. Volunteers gathered early in the morning to prepare hundreds of bars of soap, each discreetly labeled with the National Human Trafficking Hotline number and a short message offering help to potential victims.

The team visited local hotels, motels and community centers, engaging with staff to raise awareness about the signs of trafficking and how to respond if they suspect someone is in danger. These conversations were compassionate and practical, ensuring that employees understood the importance of vigilance and the discreet role these soaps can play in reaching victims who may have no other safe way to seek help.

By the end of the day, many of the hospitality businesses had received supplies, along with informational materials and training resources. The effort was not only about distributing soap but also about building a network of informed allies within the community.

The club’s work today reflected their ongoing commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals, empowering survivors, and fostering a safer environment for everyone in Riverside.

The Orange Lady took action at Veliko Tarnovo University in Bulgaria, spreading awareness and information on saying NO to violence against women to students, staff and passerby.

The Zonta Club of Pampanga, Philippines, participated in a radio advocacy program on 6 December 2025, as part of the 18 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women campaign, using the platform to raise awareness about gender-based violence and encourage community action.

The program aired on 91.9 Bright FM and featured Club Gina Millan and Attorney Karen Guevarra as guest speakers.

During the discussion, Guevarra addressed questions about the realities faced by women and girls affected by violence, emphasizing the importance of education, awareness and community involvement in preventing violence against women. She also discussed legal protections and support systems available to victims and survivors.

Millan highlighted the significance of the annual 18 Days of Activism campaign, including its purpose, timeline and the activities organized by the club to promote women’s rights and gender equality. She shared information about the club’s advocacy initiatives and encouraged community participation in efforts to end violence against women.

The program also provided an opportunity to highlight the club’s recent projects and ongoing initiatives focused on empowering women through advocacy, service and partnerships within the community.

Hosted by Ma’am Vee and Ma’am Jo, the broadcast helped amplify key messages surrounding women’s rights, protection and empowerment while reaching a broader audience across the region.

Club leaders said the radio engagement supported the goals of the 18 Days of Activism campaign by strengthening public awareness and encouraging collective action to build communities where women and girls can live free from violence.

The Zonta Club of Toronto, Canada, invited Dr. Bazlul Khondker, an internationally recognized economics scholar, to speak about the economic impact of violence against women.

Dr. Khondker holds a Master of Science degree in quantitative development economics and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Warwick. During the presentation, he shared insights from five reports he lead author for UN Women and the European Union examining how violence against women affects a country’s economy.

The discussion explored the reasoning behind the studies, the research methodology used and the findings from the reports. The research focused on five countries: Seychelles, Lesotho, Jamaica, Grenada and Guyana.

Dr. Khondker generously agreed to have the session recorded so it can be shared with other Zonta clubs. Watch the session here. Passcode: D!Uc&L0$