The Golden Z Club of Guelph-Humber collected food for Rexdale Women’s Centre from the University of Guelph-Humber and Humber College North’s students. Club members also went to the Centre and did a short presentation about violence and how to prevent it.

The Club is also sending an informative email for each of the 16 Days of Activism that can be promoted on social media and via word of mouth and putting up posters around the school to raise awareness of the issue of violence against women and girls.

The Zonta Club of Findlay, Ohio, USA, held a silent walk on 8 December 2015. Members put orange tape over their mouths to show that victims often don’t have a voice.

(The Courier)

(photo from WFSA 12)

From WFSA:

The Zonta Club of Dothan launched it’s 25-day, “Says NO to Violence” campaign on Tuesday in Dothan.

Community members joined organizers in a rally to raise awareness and kick off the campaign.

Two hundred shoes were lined up on the steps in front of the Dothan Civic Center. The shoes represent women, men and children affected by domestic violence. Organizers attached names of the victims on each shoe.

Several guest speakers spoke at the event, including a representative from the House of Ruth and the exchange center for child abuse prevention.

Houston County and Dothan commissioners also shared a few words, along with a domestic violence survivor and attorney.

“When you have empty shoes on these steps and you look at them and they were once worn by someone who is no longer with us, because they died due to domestic violence, it really makes you stop and think,” said Zonta Club of Dothan President Dianne Marshburn.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, a woman is beaten every nine seconds in the United States.

“It’s not a subject a lot of people want to talk about. There is help. There is hope. There is a way out,” said  House of Ruth Executive Director, Beverly Youse.

If you or someone you know is affected by domestic violence, reach out for help. The house of Ruth has a 24-hour help line you can call at at 793-2232.

More information on domestic violence services and statistics can be found on the Zonta says no website.

The No More Empty Shoes Art Show and Reception featured art created by domestic violence survivors to raise awareness of gender-based violence and the Zonta Says NO to Violence against Women campaign. The event, hosted by the Zonta Club of Billings, Montana, USA, took place Tuesday, 8 December, and featured speakers, including some of the show’s artists.

Zonta Club members, Carol Manley, from left, Sharleen Hunt and Jaye Latch sort through donated items Saturday during the Gifts of Giving fundraiser. (Kevin Green/Longview News-Journal)

Longview resident Sharon McCord, left, drops off items to Zonta Club member Jaye Latch on Saturday during the Gifts of Giving fundraiser. (Kevin Green/Longview News-Journal)

Zonta Club member Carol Manley collects donated items Saturday during the Gifts of Giving fundraiser at a drop-off point. (Kevin Green/Longview News-Journal)

The Zonta Club of Longview, Texas, USA, put on a Gifts of Giving fundraiser on Saturday, 5 December, to benefit victims of abuse and sex trafficking. The event, held at a local high school, is part of the club’s Zonta Says NO to Violence against Women campaign.

The club asked community members to donate items such as restaurant gift cards, clothes, bedding, hygiene items, over-the-counter medicines and more. The donations went to Refuge of Light, For the Silent, Women’s Center of East Texas and Rahab’s Retreat.

Longview residents volunteered at the fundraiser, along with members from the Zonta Club of Longview and Longview High School Z Club.

As part of its Zonta Says NO to Violence against Women and the 16 Days of Activism campaign, the Zonta Club of Fort Smith, Arkansas, USA, held a self-defense workshop during its club meeting on Monday, 7 December. Self-defense instructor Elton Hawkins showed the 35 people in attendance how to break a hold,  how to back up an attacker, how to fend off an attacker with objects you have, and more.

On 2 December, the Zonta Club of Bangkok I, brought their Zonta Says NO to Violence against Women campaign to the a local youth center.

The Zonta Club of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia organized an autoparade through the central roads of their city on 1 December to bring the Zonta Says NO to Violence against Women campaign to their streets.

The Zonta Club of North Sydney Breakfast Inc recently presented to 1,200 girls at Burwood High School as part of its Zonta Says NO to Violence against Women campaign. After the assembly, 10 members facilitated workshops with 250  Year 11 students. It kicked off with a mini movie about violence against women. During the workshop students learned how they can help their school end gender-based violence. Zontians learned from the experience, and the school plans to host workshops again next year. “We are happy to share our learnings and experience with other clubs that may want to approach schools in their area,” says Zonta Club of North Sydney Breakfast Inc President Linda Bisnette.

On Saturday, 5 December, the 50 women in the Fairview High School  basketball program in Boulder, Colorado, USA, let their school and community know that they stood with the Zonta Foothills Club of Boulder County and Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women.

The club introduced the young women to Zonta International and Zonta Says NO to Voilence against Women, and then they created approximately 20 Silent Witness silhouettes, posters and statistic boards to post around the school. These powerful messages will be seen by hundreds of athletes, students and families over the coming weeks, as well as participants at next week’s Fairview Festival tournament, which hosts boys’ and girls’ basketball teams from all over the state.

The club thanks Varsity Head Coach and Program Director Rod Beauchamp and his staff for their support of their project and for giving them the attention of teams and his fans.