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NEWS...
December 4, 2020 - One-Minute Silence against Domestic Violence: Zonta North Sydney members Linda Bisnette and Marie Dayton attended the event held in Chatswood in remembrance and acknowledgement of the victims of domestic and family violence, based on the United Nations' "16 Days of Activism agasint Gender-Based Violence." The event was organized by the Lower North Shore Domestic Violence Network. Zonta North Sydney contributed to yearly Christmas project of #sharethedignity. Thirty plus handbags were filled with essential items to support women in need of shelter. They will be distributed before Christmas to provide support and a gesture of kindness. The new-look No Excuse for Abuse campaign calls on Australians to recognise that behaviours like verbal put-downs, controlling household spending or checking a partner’s text messages are all forms of abuse. An updated campaign was launched, aiming to raise awareness of nonphysical forms of violence following reports of a rise in domestic violence during the COVID-19 lockdown. Targeting men and women of age 18 to 44, the campaign was redeveloped in light of a reported surge in Google searches for crisis support services for domestic violence and an increase in calls to helplines including 1800RESPECT, as well the need to educate the broader community about the different types of abuse look like. We want the community to understand that non-physical forms of abuse are serious, inexcusable and preventable. (Photo courtesy of ARLA, UK.) Birthing Kit Assembly Day at North Sydney Community Centre: Where are the kits distributed? A birthing kit can mean live or death to many women and children in developing countries. Birthing Kit Foundation Australia has distributed the birthing kits assembled in March by volunteers of Zonta North Sydney to 22 international charities: three in Papua New Guinea; three in the Democratic Republic of Congo; one in Ghana; three in Nigeria; one in Somalia; one in Tanzania; six in Uganda; one in India; one in Pakistan; one in South Sudan; and one in Haiti. Among the 22 charities are World Vision, Foundation for Development and Relief in Africa, Poverty Eradication Initiative, Women's Health to Wealth, and Living Child Inc. Zonta Club of North Sydney held an awareness event with a table at the February 25th North Sydney Produce Market. We showcased samples of our projects and provided information on each. If you are seeking to get involved in an organization that aims to empower young girls and women locally and globally, please call Linda Bisnette on 0423199110. We always are looking for help and new members! Zonta International has contributed US$2 million to the UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme to End Child Marriage works in 12 countries, where it brings together governments, civil society, families and young people in a collective effort to prevent girls from marrying too young and support those already married. Countries include Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Yemen, and Zambia. In Zonta's first year of support, the Global Programme achieved the following results: a) Nearly 3 million adolescent girls were empowered through life skills education and training, far exceeding the goal of 1.4 million. b) 77% of girls enrolled in these programs transitioned from primary to lower secondary school, compared to just 59.8% who made the same transition in 2017. To see more about the Global Programme's impact, read the Ending Child Marriage 2018 Executive Summary and Annual Report. As a result of Zonta Club of North Sydney's Women in Medtech initiative, three students from North Sydney Girls High School were able to gain work experience placements in four medical technology companies. The girls visited a recent Club meeting to recount their experiences and share their career aspirations. A certificate of participation was awarded to each. This project was developed to encourage girls to continue their STEM studies. Willoughby Girls High School helped pack 200 Birthing Kits for women in developing countries on November 14th. Students were keen and lively, and described their reason for participating as "...helping others if you have a chance to make a difference." Thank you, Willoughby Girl's High School! We made the numbers! Thanks to all our contributors and supporters for a successful showing of "I Am A Girl" at the Hayden Orpheum theatre. Congratulations to our four raffle winners! The event began with some nibbles and ended with each of the audience taking home a piece of our Zonta International 100th Birthday cake. Thanks to Northshore Living magazine (September 2019), The Senior newspaper (September 22, 2019), and Lane Cove Village Observer (February 2020) for their wonderful articles on our Zonta Club of North Sydney. To see the articles, click here, here., and here.
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