"Each time a girl opens a book and reads a womanless history, she learns that
she is worth less."
Myra Pollack Sadker
"Violence against women is perhaps the most shameful human rights violation. And it is
perhaps the most pervasive. It knows no boundaries, geography, culture, or
wealth. As long as it continues, we cannot claim to be making real progress
towards equality, development and peace."
Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General, 1999
Zonta Club of Swan Hills
Zonta International (ZI) is a worldwide service organization of women executives in business and the professions working together to advance the status of women. There are more than 30,000 members in 1,200 clubs in 66 countries. Zontians volunteer their time, talents and energy to local and international service projects to fulfil Zonta’s mission to advance the status of women.
Founded in 1919 in Buffalo, New York, USA, Zonta takes its name from the Lakota Sioux Indian word meaning ‘honest and trustworthy’. ZI , its districts and its clubs are non-sectarian and non-partisan.
Zonta arrived in Australia with the establishment of the first Sydney Club in 1929. This was one of the first Clubs to come into existence outside the United States and Canada. Our own Club, the Zonta Club of Swan Hills, proudly celebrated its 13 th birthday on Australian Day, 26 January 2012.
Although only a small club, our members work tirelessly throughout the year raising funds to support women and families in need. Approximately one third of all monies raised are forwarded to ZI Headquarters to assist in providing for international projects.
During the current Biennium Zonta International’s projects include:
Liberia Fistula Program;
Elimination of New Paediatric HIV Infection and Prevention and
Response to Survivors of
Domestic and Gender Based Violence in
Rwanda;
Mass Communication with a Purpose: Global Partnership on Edutainment for Social Change;
Safe Cities for Women in Honduras;
Empowering Women in Rural Samoa to Combat Violence; and
Various Education and Leadership Development Programs.
Locally the Zonta Club of Swan Hills’ projects include:
Annual Studies Assistance Grant, aimed at assisting a young
post-compulsory student to continue
her studies;
Young Women in Public Affairs Award, intended to encourage young
women to enter careers in
public affairs, public policy or community
organisations.
Woman of Achievement Award, which acknowledges a significant
community contribution by an
otherwise unrecognised woman.
You are encouraged to take the first step towards making a difference to the lives of less fortunate women and girls, locally and globally. With this in mind, I invite you to navigate the pages of our website and to follow the link to the ZI ‘site, in order to discover what a truly wonderful organisation this is. You are also invited to attend one of our dinner meetings which are held at the Mallard Duck Cafe in Henley Brook on the third Wednesday of the month. Further information in this regard is available by emailing us at zonta@zontaswanhills.org.au
Come on, what’s stopping you? The most rewarding journey of your life could be just a click away.
Faith O'Brien
President
2014 - 2016
Zonta says "NO" to violence against women.
Zonta Swan Hills wish to thank WAIT and Webdew for hosting this web site.