The Zonta Club of Harrisburg-Hershey, USA, hosted a social media campaign on Facebook each day for the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week from 19-25 April. The club contacted local legislators and like-minded partner organizations for comments regarding their support of victims of crime and their rights.

Club members also attended the 2026 Crime Victims’ Rights Rally on 20 April, hosted by the Crime Victims’ Alliance of Pennsylvania.

On 6 March, the Zonta Club of Cheyenne, USA, held its annual fundraising event known as CANCEL OUT Domestic Violence.

The event featured several displays and activities focused on educating attendees about the impact of domestic violence. One of the most visible displays was a clothesline installation at the entrance to the venue featuring dozens of T-shirts with messages related to domestic violence awareness.

Silhouettes representing local women who lost their lives to domestic violence were also placed throughout the venue, each accompanied by information about their stories.

Two speakers shared personal experiences related to domestic violence during the program. One speaker performed a song written in memory of a bandmate who was killed by her estranged husband while performing.

Funds were raised through sponsorships, dinner ticket sales, auctions, raffles and donations. According to the club, a portion of the proceeds will support the Zonta Foundation for Women, while additional funds will benefit the local Safehouse organization, which assists survivors of domestic violence as they transition to the next stage of their lives.

The event highlighted the importance of advocacy, awareness and community support in efforts to end violence against women and girls.

In a joint effort to amplify advocacy and drive meaningful change, Zonta Clubs of Ibadan I and II, Nigeria, successfully organized a press conference focused on the “Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women” campaign. The event served as a strategic platform to engage the public, raise awareness, and reinforce our collective commitment to ending all forms of violence against women and girls.

During the session, members of both clubs provided clear insight into the objectives of the campaign, emphasizing the urgent need for societal action, policy support, and community involvement. The discussion highlighted the various forms of violence—physical, emotional, psychological, and economic—and the far-reaching impact they have on individuals, families, and society at large.

Participants were also educated on practical ways to support the campaign, including speaking up against abuse, supporting survivors, promoting gender equality, and collaborating with relevant stakeholders to foster safer communities. The critical role of individuals, institutions, and the media in shaping attitudes and driving accountability was strongly emphasized.

As part of the broader advocacy efforts, Ibadan II extended its impact through an outreach to a local school, where students were sensitized on the importance of speaking up and not suffering in silence. The session encouraged young people to recognize abuse, seek help and support one another, reinforcing the message that their voices matter and can drive change.

The combined initiatives not only deepened public understanding but also strengthened partnerships and inspired a shared responsibility to say NO to violence in all its forms. Together, we reaffirm our commitment to advocacy, education, and sustained action toward a violence-free society.

The Zonta Club of Kauai, USA, collaborated with the Kauai Committee on the Status of Women and several local agencies in support of the Mayor’s Denim Day Proclamation.

Denim Day, held on the last Wednesday in April (Sexual Assault Awareness Month), is recognized internationally as a campaign to raise awareness about sexual violence and support survivors. The initiative encourages people to wear denim as a visible statement against victim-blaming and gender-based violence.

The Zonta Club of Kalmar, Sweden, has spent the past five years collaborating with local students and schools to raise awareness about violence against women and girls through art, performances and community engagement.

The initiative began when the club decided to create a public shop window display in Kalmar to draw attention to issues such as gender-based violence and child marriage. The club partnered with the aesthetic studies department at Jenny Nyströmskolan, where students work on projects connected to Zonta’s mission during the autumn term.

Club members meet with first- and third-year students to introduce Zonta, discuss violence against women and girls and explain the purpose of the project. Students then create posters, films and artistic installations addressing issues such as violence against women, child marriage and female genital mutilation.

According to the club, students have shown strong engagement and creativity in their work. One student-led film used clay models to illustrate the impact of female genital mutilation.

To unveil the annual display, the club hosts a public event featuring speeches, musical performances and presentations from teachers and students. The unveiling regularly attracts around 100 attendees and receives media attention.

The club also organizes an annual charity gala attended by approximately 900 people. Dance students from Jenny Nyströmskolan collaborate with the club by creating and performing original dance numbers for the event.

In addition, stylist students from Lars Kaggskolan in Kalmar assist backstage by providing hair and makeup services for gala models. For many first-year students, the event is their first experience working in a professional environment, while third-year students are evaluated on their work as part of their studies.

The club said the collaborations encourage important discussions among students while helping them gain new perspectives and experiences through creative expression and community involvement.

The Zonta Club of The New Territories II, Hong Kong, partnered with Battalion Thai Boxing, a Hong Kong social enterprise, to offer a special self-defense workshop for women and girls as part of our “16 Days of Activism – Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women” campaign.

In this workshop, participants learn basic postures and movements, practical defense skills such as blocking, evasion and dodging, and simple counterattack techniques like punching and kicking. These are not just physical skills – they build confidence, body awareness and a stronger sense of personal boundaries, which are key life skills for preventing and resisting gender-based violence in everyday life. This echoes Zonta’s vision of a world where no woman lives in fear of violence and where women can achieve their full potential free from harm.

What makes this project truly special is who is teaching. Battalion (Elite SE) is a social enterprise founded to empower at-risk and underprivileged youths through Thai boxing in Hong Kong. With the income from regular classes, they sponsor young people to train, improve their physical and mental well-being, and eventually develop a positive life path – including a career as Thai boxing coaches who, in turn, help others in need. Battalion’s philosophy is “helping people to help themselves,” building a more caring and harmonious community.

Many of these young coaches could have been on a very different path – one where frustration, marginalization and lack of support might have led to becoming perpetrators of violence, including violence against women. Instead, through mentorship, sports discipline and opportunities, they are becoming role models: men who respect women, stand against abuse, and actively empower women by teaching them to protect themselves.

By bringing women, girls and empowered youth coaches together on the mat, this project tackles violence from two sides: it strengthens the voice, agency and safety of women and girls, while also transforming young men who might otherwise be at risk into allies and champions in the fight to end violence against women.

The Zonta Club of The Villages, USA, recently hosted its largest and most successful fundraising event of the year, a fashion show and luncheon that brought together nearly 280 attendees in support of programs benefiting women and girls.

During the event, participants enjoyed a variety of fundraising activities, including the auction of 55 gift baskets, a silent auction, a 50/50 raffle and other contributions that helped raise thousands of dollars.

Proceeds from the event will support several initiatives aligned with Zonta’s mission, including projects under the “Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women” campaign, educational scholarships for women and girls and community partnerships with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity Women’s Build, Shepherd’s Lighthouse and human trafficking prevention programs.

The Zonta Club of Dhaka III, Bangladesh, shared the story of Tamanna, a young woman who survived child marriage and domestic abuse, as part of the global 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence campaign.

Married at a young age, Tamanna faced abuse from her husband and in-laws before the marriage ended when her father, a rickshaw puller, was unable to provide a dowry. Her second marriage also ended in hardship when her husband abandoned her while she was two months pregnant.

Members of the Zonta Club of Dhaka III stepped in to support Tamanna by providing financial assistance, health care support and emotional guidance during a difficult time in her life.

Tamanna later gave birth to a baby boy through a cesarean section, with one Zonta club member covering the hospital expenses. Despite the challenges she faced, Tamanna has continued to rebuild her life and support her child.

Having completed her education through grade eight, she now earns income through a variety of small jobs, including household work, sewing, tutoring children and selling mangoes and homemade pickles in her village. When additional support is needed, members of the Zonta Club of Dhaka III continue to assist her.

Her son is now 10 months old, and Tamanna plans to begin working at a garment factory in Dhaka in the coming months while her mother helps care for the child.

Through resilience, determination and the support of her community, Tamanna continues to build a future for herself and her family. She often reminds herself, “I can, I will and I must.”

Local students shared messages of kindness, inclusion and understanding through the “Respect Through Art – A Community Celebration” exhibition at Bunbury Forum Shopping Centre from 12 January to 2 February.

The exhibition featured artworks created for the Zonta Club of Bunbury Inc.’s 2026 Students’ Respect Art Calendar Competition. Each piece reflected what respect means to young people in their schools, families and community, continuing the work of Choose Respect Bunbury and promoting a respectful community for all.

A student visiting the display expressed, “I wanted my artwork to remind people that small acts of kindness can make a big difference and that respect grows when we all choose to act with care and consideration.”

The project was developed to encourage conversations about respect and disrespect, support creative expression and help young people understand how respectful behavior builds positive relationships. Selected artworks are featured in an annual calendar, making respect a daily reminder throughout the year, and are also shared on the club’s social media channels during the Zonta Says NO campaign.

Project Coordinator Jo Wittorff said, “It’s wonderful to be able share the students’ ideas with the public. We greatly appreciate the generosity of the Bunbury Forum in granting our Zonta club this unique opportunity.”

The competition is open to government and non-government primary and high school students in the Bunbury Education District, including home-schooled students. The 2026 competition for the 2027 Respect Calendar will open 12 June and close 9 September.