In the news: Zonta Club of Grand Island says NO to violence against women

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Zonta Club of Grand Island President Ricki Harper, left, with club Vice President Heidi Travagline, pose near a banner proclaiming “Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women.” Zonta members decorated the Town Commons with orange ribbons; the color orange is used to represent a brighter future, free from violence against women and girls.
Source: Niagara Frontier Publications

On Monday, Nov. 13, members of the Zonta Club of Grand Island once again decorated the Town Commons with orange ribbons; the color orange is used to represent a brighter future, free from violence against women and girls.
At Monday’s Town Board meeting, a proclamation will be issued on behalf of Zonta’s “16 Days of Activism.”
Also, the “Zonta Says No” banner will be displayed on the Grand Island Welcome sign on the Town Commons.

History
The “16 Days of Activism” runs from Nov. 25 through Dec. 10. In 2008, The United Nations designated Nov. 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls.
On Dec. 10, 1948, the UN General Assembly created a groundbreaking global pledge, “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” It enshrines the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being – regardless of race, color, religion, gender, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

‘Zonta Says No’ to Violence
Violence against women and girls is one of the most pervasive human rights violations and a global threat, according to Zonta International. It knows no national or cultural barriers; it takes place at home, in the workplace and in open spaces; it affects millions of women and girls in peacetime and conflict. It includes psychological, physical and sexual violence. 
Zonta envisions a world where no woman lives in fear of violence. Through the “Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women” campaign, Zonta members and allies stand together, uniting their voices to advocate for all those who have suffered gender-based violence.

Source: https://www.wnypapers.com/news/article/current/2023/11/17/157852/zonta-says-no-to-violence-against-women

In the news: Zonta Club of Bradford presented with a proclamation from mayor

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Source: The Bradford Era
Zonta Club of Bradford was presented with a proclamation from Mayor Tom Riel at Tuesday’s Bradford City Council meeting.

Receiving the proclamation were (from left) club members Holly Puglio, president, and Ginny Crouse. Nov. 25 begins Zonta’s 16 Days of Advocacy shedding a light on violence against women.

From Nov. 25 to Dec. 10 orange lights at area merchants, local residences and public buildings show support of the We Say No to Violence Against Women campaign.

Visit the Zonta Club’s Facebook page for more information about how to get involved.

Source: https://www.bradfordera.com/news/zonta-clubs-16-days-of-advocacy-coming-soon/article_3230921a-83eb-11ee-8416-ab727e61f415.html

In the news: Zonta Club of Ashtabula Area to kick off 16 days of Activism

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Source: Star Beacon
ASHTABULA — The Zonta Club of Ashtabula Area (ZCAA) will kick off the 16 Days of Activism on Monday at the lift bridge on Bridge Street.

The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the support of the Lift Bridge Community Association by lighting the lift bridge with orange lights — the color that symbolizes the Zonta International campaign of Zonta Says NO to Violence against Women.
“This year, the ZCAA also purchased two bill-boards in Ashtabula to bring even more awareness to finding ways to put an end to violence,” said Linda Coblitz of the ZCAA.

The Zonta Says No campaign, unites Zonta clubs and members around the world as they raise their voices to bring awareness to this issue and advocate on behalf of violence survivors and victims.
“As the world prepares for the holidays, instances of violence against women and girls continue to rise,” she said. “Now, more than ever, it is essential that we work together, with our communities, partners, and future generations, to end violence.”

Zonta International partners with the United Nations in their UNITE campaign, which also works to bring awareness to accountability in stopping gender-based violence.

Annually and internationally these dates are part of the 16 days of Activism: Nov. 25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women; Nov. 29 International Women’s Human Rights Defenders; Dec. 1 World AIDS Day and Dec. 10, which ends the 16 Days of Activism is HUMAN Rights Day.

Zonta International believes in making the world a better place by empowering women and finds joy in doing this in a supportive community of like-minded professionals from diverse countries and cultures.

The local Zonta Club of Ashtabula Area meets on the second Monday of each month to discuss and plan local service projects, network, and continue learning about our community and world. For more information about the local club see its Facebook Page: Zonta Club of Ashtabula Area, send an email to zonta5ashtabula@yahoo.com or check out the Zonta International website zonta.org.

Source: https://www.starbeacon.com/news/local_news/zonta-club-to-kick-off-16-days-of-activism/article_780927a6-822a-11ee-a1b3-6b4ac7e440ff.html

Zonta Club of Sofia Says NO to cyberviolence

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The first of November marks Bulgaria’s National Awakeners Day, commemorating Bulgarian writers, scholars, educators and freedom fighters. The Zonta Club of Sofia found this date perfect for organizing a meeting with students and teachers from the country on the topic: “Revivalists of the New Time!”

The meeting occurred at the Laboratory of Intelligent and Cyber-Physical Systems at the Technical University Sofia, which the club partners with. The club welcomed more than 200 students and teachers from across the country to the new building of the Innovation Center.

The event started with the club receiving a certificate and plaque from the university for their generous donation. They also introduced Zonta’s goals and mission to the attendees.

Inspector Emil Iliev from the Chief Department for Combating Organized Crime was a keynote speaker on cybersecurity and cyberviolence and talked with the students on this important issue.

One of the main technical lab sponsors appealed to the youths to be literate and reasonable in the modern digital world.

The event ended with plans for future joint projects between the club and the university, which signed a partnership agreement a year ago. They call on all youths to be literate and smart when online and say NO to cyberviolence.

Zonta cyclists brings attention to Zonta Says NO to Women Against Women

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Zontians from Area 5, District 27, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and Ukraine, comprised a 35-member Zonta On Tour Cycling Team to kom op tegen kanker, stand up to cancer, through a four-day bike tour in Flanders.

One way the team trains is by cycling to district conferences whenever possible. Their driving force is their deare Zonta friend, Griet De Prycker, who lost her battle against cancer. Her motto was “focus on the sun,” the team stuck to this motto during their bike rides, despite rain or wind.

This year, the team aims to draw attention to the Zonta Says NO campaign. For the fifth year, they will embark on a journey to reach district conferences by bike. This time, they began their trip from the same point where we had concluded in 2021: Leuven, Belgium.

On Wednesday, 20 September, the team disembarked from Leuven to Vaals, Netherlands. Their 130 kilometers (about 80.8 miles) took them through Tienen, Sint-Truiden and Tongeren before we reached Vaals. The next day, they followed the Vennbahn bike route to Troisvièrges, Luxembourg, covering a distance of 135 kilometers. On Friday, they embarked on a 90-kilometer journey from Troisvièrges, heading south towards Luxembourg. In total, they covered 355 kilometers and encountered numerous uphill challenges, a true test even for their well-trained legs.

The team successfully conquered these challenges with the invaluable assistance of their dedicated sports team and logistical support whenever it was needed. Their arrival in Luxembourg was marked by a warm welcome from Honorary Member Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, President Ute Schulz and many other dignitaries.

The team felt incredibly fortunate to be a part of Zonta, an organization that continuously motivates and propels us forward, regardless of our obstacles. The Zonta On Tour Team presented a generous donation of 5,000 euros to the Zonta Foundation for Women.

Click here to watch a short film from the team.

Zonta Club of Darmstadt knits to end violence against women

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The Zonta Club of Darmstadt, Germany, joined Viva Vittoria, a project in Italy to end violence against women by knitting blankets to raise funds to end violence against women.

Viva Vittoria is a relational shared work and spreads the message that once a woman understands her value, she automatically becomes the creator of her existence and can bring about change in herself and society. Knitting serves as a metaphor for self-creation and self-development. It is also a tool to help realize this project. It proved a perfect medium because it consists of a widespread and quickly learned creative mode. In adults, it connects to familiar images, brings out memories, and creates an attitude of encounter and relationship.

Anja Kernchen, who lives partly in Italy and Darmstadt, brought the project to the club. The club collected and knitted hundreds of blankets together in the past 1.5 years. Through an article, many across Europe and Australia sent in blankets for the project.

In the end, more than 2,000 blankets were sewn from the squares by many hands, with at least seven people working on each blanket to create an impressive statement against violence.

On 4 and 5 March, the club covered the 1,000 meters squared Friedensplatzwith the blankets, which could be purchased for a donation of at least 20 €.

The club sold all blankets and raised more than 50,000 euros. All proceeds were donated to Wildwasser Darmstadt e.V., a professional counseling center for girls and women affected by sexualized violence, and the help fund of the Frauenhaus Darmstadt.

Prowers Z Club says NO to teen dating violence

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The Prowers Z Club, USA, conducted several awareness-raising and educational projects to raise teen dating violence awareness and prevention. They developed and distributed an informational slide show about healthy and unhealthy relationships, which included data about dating violence and helpline numbers and websites at both Lamar High School and Lamar Middle School.

The club also conducted a “Wear Orange” awareness day and “treasure hunt” announcements, including information posted around the school and handed out lollipops with information about the Teen Dating Violence Awareness website.

Zonta Club of Makati and Environs celebrates 55th anniversary of Psychological Center for Abused Girls and Children

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On 16 March, the Zonta Club of Makati and Environs, the Philippines, celebrated the 55th anniversary of its flagship project, the Marillac Hills Psychological Center for Abused Girls and Children.

Twenty-six years ago, the club partnered with Marillac Hills – National Training School for Girls, a government-run haven for survivors of sexual abuse, exploitation and cyber pornography and girls who conflict with the law. This partnership has allowed both organizations to expand their resources in helping survivors. Currently, Club Vice President Joanne Zapanta-Andrada serves as the center’s committee head of the Psychological Center.

During the celebration, the club handed out plaques of appreciation for their partners and Zontians who have made the center’s work invaluable. The program also included speeches from officials, performances and a brief history of the center was provided by Farrah Cabrera, the head of the center.

Zonta Club of Sofia encourages students to say NO to cyber violence

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As a part of its “NO to cyber violence against women and children” initiative, the Zonta Club of Sofia, Bulgaria, held a training session about cyber violence with experts from the Chief Directorate for Combating Organised Crime. Held at the National School of Dance Art, more than 250 students from grades 7 to 11 attended the session.

Inspired by the presentation, some students volunteered for the club’s project to raise further awareness of cyber violence prevention by becoming peer educators.

The club is grateful to the school for the opportunity to enlighten its students about cyber violence for to its partner for their constant support.

Zonta Club of Toowoomba Garden City gets active for 16 Days of Activism

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During the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence, the Zonta Club of Toowoomba Garden City Inc, Australia, made headlines and grabbed attention on social media in their local area due to their numerous actions saying no to violence against women.

Bringing orange
The club lit a local bridge orange throughout the 16 Days. On 25 November, club members marched back from that bridge to the downtown area. They also hung a ‘Zonta Says NO’ banner across one of the main streets and displayed Orange Ladies in businesses across town.

Engaging the youth
Club President Charmain Searle visited the Toowoomba State High School to inform the students about gender-based violence and Zonta’s mission.

Market stall
In collaboration with the Zonta Club of Toowoomba Area Inc and the Zonta e-Club of Queensland Inc, the club held a Zonta Awareness market stall to spread Zonta information and merchandise. Zontians Ansmarie Van Erp, Vanessa Priebe and Marie Cameron were also involved.

Campaign letter
Tarsh Francis, Advocacy Chair of the club, proposed conducting a letter-writing campaign to house local women experiencing domestic violence, which was touted in the local shopping centers. The letter garnered many signed letters and increased awareness in their community about Zonta and its mission.

Human Rights Day ceremony
On 9 December, the club participated with local authorities to hold a Human Rights Day flag-raising ceremony in the village square.