As part of its Zonta Says NO to V violence Against Women campaign during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, the Zonta Club of St. Cloud, USA, lit its community up orange.
awareness
Zonta Club of Dhaka IV spreads awareness of gender-based violence with multiple events during the 16 Days of Activism
On 28 November, the Zonta Club of Dhaka IV, Bangladesh, hosted an interactive activity with underprivileged young girls and their mothers and the teachers of Jaago Foundation Banani School.
On 2 December, the club joined the other three Dhaka Zonta clubs for a rally, which included Z club students. Participants wore orange T-shirts in support of the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign.
On 3 December, the Zonta Club of Dhaka IV hosted a program with that touched on thought-provoking issues raised by the young, insightful guest speakers.
Zonta Club of Birmingham offers a message of hope on its Zonta Says NO billboard
For the past several years, the Zonta Club of Birmingham has sponsored a billboard at the intersection of I-65N at Oxmoor Road in Homewood, Alabama, USA. The message aligns with Zonta International’s Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
The billboard gives a prominent hotline number for domestic violence victims to call for help: 1-800-799-SAFE.
Zonta Club of Colombo III partners with local women for a mural representing their dedication to ending violence against women
Slave Island, located within the city of Colombo, Sri Lanka, is one of the busiest commercial areas in the city, with a large number of households crammed in between commercial enterprises. The area comprises a unique multi-ethnic, multi-cultural community, who are hard workers and survivors in the big city.
The Zonta Club of Colombo III partnered with these unique ladies to create a wall mural depicting and relating to the uniqueness and resilience of the women in this special community and to inspire them to stand up to violence against women.
The Zonta club celebrated these ladies by making it a day of fun, learning and empowerment with events flowing into each other, a song and dance session, and a simultaneous workshop educating them on the rights of women in standing up to violence against women, conducted by eminent lawyers and police officers of the Women and Children’s Bureau of the Sri Lanka Police.
After the completion of the mural, all Zontians and the ladies of the community put their palm prints on the wall depicting themselves as part of the mural and as a sign of their contribution and commitment to stand up to violence against women.
The palm prints of the local ladies as part of the mural in the locality will continue to be a source of inspiration and a constant reminder of their collective effort to raise awareness within their community with their own participation.
District 8 Zontians turn bridge orange and spread awareness in Portland
On 28 November, members of clubs throughout District 8 gathered in Portland, Oregon, USA, to light the Morrison Bridge orange and bring awareness to Zonta and the 16 Days of Activism.
Along with bringing awareness of gender-based domestic violence to the people at the bridge, the local news interviewed District 8 Governor Deb Lal, which was aired later that night.
Bulgaria Zonta clubs unite to Say NO to Violence Against Women with a dance celebration
On 25 November, the world turned orange during the global “Orange the world” initiative to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
In Bulgaria, Zonta clubs in the cities of Sofia, Plovdiv, Stara Zagora, Burgas, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo and Ruse actively participated in various initiatives and all united around the same initiative under the title “In the rhythm of dance and holding hands – ZONTA says NO to violence against women and girls.”
Various dance ensembles and citizens took part in the flash mob to express their protest through the power of Bulgarian folk dance and to declare their categorical “NO to violence against women and girls.”
The clubs called on the attendees of the flash mob and all people in the country of Bulgaria to be active, uncompromising defenders of the right of every woman to live in a better world—a world without violence. Despite the unfavorable weather conditions, the participants showed their commitment to the cause through their talent.
All clubs in District 30 Area 5 will say “NO to violence” through different activities planned within the16 days of the campaign.
The campaign received great media and press coverage within the country.
Read more at: https://www.zonta-area05d30.org/ and https://www.facebook.com/Area05District30ZontaInternational
Zonta Club of Le Havre hosts film screening and debate surrounding FGM to kick off 16 Days of Activism
Since 1982, the national organization GAMS (Groupement pour l’Abolition des Mutilations Sexuelles or Group Working to End Female Genital Mutilations) has worked to end female genital mutilation (FGM). The Zonta Club of Le Havre, France, has been a partner of GAMS Normandie for several years.
In connection with the GAMS’ 40 years of actions to end sexual violence against women and the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, members of GAMS and the Zonta club held a screening of the film In Search: A Journey to Womanhood followed by a debate on 25 November.
The film features Beryl, who was born in a rural village in Kenya, and thought that all women in the world had to be mutilated/cut. Consequently, she had to suffer these initiative rites. She did not imagine all the consequences of such an act. Many years later, she heard about a new kind of surgery, which was able to repair what was removed.
Through this autobiographic film, Beryl explores the emotional dilemma sparked by this possible surgery. She met and asked women who had to live the same experiences.
The movie screening was followed by a debate surrounding the surgical reconstruction and led by, among others, Dr. Fabienne Trocque, gynecologist, and Me Pascale Poulain, sex therapist—both of them Zontians and past presidents.
Zonta Club of Christchurch South hosts 20th annual Zonta Says NO Breakfast
Last week, the Zonta Club of Christchurch South, New Zealand, held its 20th annual Zonta Says NO Breakfast.
Dressed in orange, club members welcomed their 100 guests, including special guests such as their city’s mayor, his wife and District Governor Phillippa Jacobs Lory. Some Avonside Girls’ High School Z Club members and the Rotary Sunshine Club supported the event.
The club sold raffles to fundraise and invited Celine Donovan to speak about domestic violence and how the community can respond.
Zonta Club of New Territories kicks off Zonta Says NO during their 40th club anniversary
The Zonta Club of New Territories, Hong Kong, kicked off the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign at their 40th club anniversary celebration event.
Club members and guests gathered to show off their orange and raise awareness of gender-based violence.
Zonta Club of Taichung celebrates 50th club anniversary by kicking off 16 Days of Activism
In honor of its 50th club anniversary, the Zonta Club of Taichung, Republic of China (Taiwan), donated a modified 9-passenger vehicle to Huei-Ming School and Home for Blind Children. The vehicle, which includes five seats and accommodates two wheelchairs, solves the school’s transportation problems from a lack of properly equipped cars. Now, the school can provide more than one route and minimize the need to detour to pick up every student.
The club later celebrate its anniversary with a ceremony. Many other Zonta clubs in the district joined in the festivities, and International President Ute sent them a congratulatory letter and video. A musical play performed by more than ten former club presidents spiced up the celebration.
After the ceremony, the club and its Z and Golden Z clubs held a parade to raise awareness on ending violence against women and children.
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