Monday Nov 18, 2024
Monday Nov 18, 2024
Wednesday, 23 October 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The conference will be held in Sri Lanka from 25 to 27 October 2013. It aims to strengthen the bonds between the member countries of the district, forging friendship and understanding.
The presence of Joy Orlich, a member of the International Board, enables members to understand the workings of the organisation and its forward planning towards the strengthening of the organisation. It is also an opportunity to showcase the magnitude of the work carried out by the district and individual clubs.
Educative and informative workshops are being organised on subjects relevant to ZONTA objectives. ZONTA members will be able to discuss common issues faced in the countries, enabling learning for all.
Speaking about the conference, District Governor of ZONTA International District 25, Dr. Marlene Abeyewardene said: “By the deliberations at the District Conference we hope that we would be able to provide a better society for the women of Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh and Nepal to live with freedom, better education, advocacy with respect to their health and that of their family and move around without fear of violence or harassment.”
Speaking further, Dr. Abeyewardene added: “ZONTA focuses on assisting the women of our countries to achieve optimal goals so that they could contribute to the betterment of their families and build a strong nation. The District Conference gives us an opportunity to plan for the future to achieve our objectives.”
“Through the deliberations and discussions at the District Conference we hope to be able to organise better programs to assist our women, particularly focusing on health advocacy and prevention of violence against women.”
ZONTA has been growing from strength to strength since it was first introduced to the district over 50 years ago. There are three clubs in Colombo, one in Kandy, and one in Negombo, Bangladesh has five clubs in Dhaka and one in Chittagong, India has two in Bombay and one in Madras. The new country in the district is Nepal with one club.
The main objectives of ZONTA International are advancing the status of women by improving the legal, political, economic, educational, health and professional status of women through service and advocacy whilst promoting justice and universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Members of ZONTA are women executives in business and professions, leaders in their professions who volunteer to give of themselves towards the betterment of women. It is the only service organisation whose platform of service is the singular minded advancement of women.
ZONTA with an international membership of 30,000 members in over 64 countries was founded in 1919 in Buffalo New York by Marian de Forest who envisioned a strong network of professional women who would help women reach their rightful positions in society.
The clubs have striven to empower women in several aspects of their lives. These include education, health, finance management and micro finance, guidance to careers and their right to gender equality.
The prevention of gender based violence receives priority.
This factor has been addressed through legislative awareness and legal advocacy programs for women, in order that they are aware of the prevalent laws towards prevention and protection from gender based violence and sexual abuse of women and the girl child.
ZONTA International believes that young women with a commitment to service and leadership are the key to improving the status of future generations of women. ZONTA’s Z Club and Golden Z Club program help school, college and university students develop leadership skills, explore career options and participate in local and international community service projects and encourage service and volunteerism in future generations. District 25 has Z Clubs and Golden Z clubs in all its member countries.
Encouraging girls to achieve educational excellence, ZONTA International Offers awards for outstanding students in aerospace-related sciences and engineering, through the Ameila Earhart Fellowship, business studies through the Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship and leadership development in schoolgirls through the Young Women in Public Affairs (YWPA) award program.
All these programs are active in the district through the participation of the clubs in the district. It has had the honour of forwarding many international winners for these awards.
ZONTA Clubs also recognise non-ZONTIAN women achievers both in business and professions, awards which have been much valued by the recipients.
