Because Zonta International is a volunteer community service organisation, an integral part of our objects and how we work is undertaking service projects:
Every club undertakes projects to assist their own community, e.g. through fundraising for a local resource or a service delivered by someone else, or providing volunteer skills and resources directly
Selected projects are endorsed for special focus in District 24
Each biennium, projects are funded by the Zonta International Foundation, using contributions from clubs, Zontians and other donors around the world.
INTERNATIONAL SERVICE PROJECTS
Zonta International, since its inception in 1919, has been dedicated to providing material support to underprivileged women and girls across various regions of the world. This noble mission continues with unwavering commitment today. Every biennium, Zonta members come together at the International Convention to vote on crucial service projects. For the 2024-26 biennium, the selected projects that will benefit from the fundraising efforts of all Zonta clubs are:
Climate Empower: Community Empowerment and Innovation for Gender-Transformative Climate Action
Ending Child Marriage: A Program to Accelerate Global Action
LAAHA: A Virtual Safe Space for Women and Girls
These initiatives reflect Zonta’s ongoing dedication to creating positive, lasting change for women and girls worldwide. More information about these crucial projects can be found on the ZI website.
DISTRICT ENDORSED SERVICE PROJECTS
Since 2005, selected projects have been endorsed by a vote at District Conference for support over the coming biennium. Zonta clubs in the District individually choose whether to participate in these particular projects according to the priorities of their club (by a vote in the club).
CLUB SERVICE PROJECTS
Many clubs support women and girls in their local community. A typical example is providing personal care items and start up packs to women and children living in/or leaving local refuges.
Zonta Breast Care Cushions
These hand made cushions aid recovery from breast surgery.
Providing these free to hospitals where breast surgery is done was first endorsed as a District 24 project in 2001 after beginning as a Club project, instigated by the Zonta Club of Botany Bay in 1995.
Breast cushions are now made throughout Australian clubs and were launched to International members at the 2024 Brisbane International Convention.
District Endorsed Service Projects
Zonta Birthing Kits
Birthing kits are designed to reduce the infections of mother and child associated with childbirth in developing countries with poor peri-natal facilities.
The project, undertaken in cooperation with the Birthing Kit Foundation, has been a District endorsed project since 2005, after beginning as a club project at the Zonta Club of Adelaide Hills. The birthing kits are assembled by Zonta clubs and others participating in the project, for distribution in cooperation with international and local health authorities.
Keeping Women Out of Prison (KWOOP)
KWOOP was endorsed by Zonta District 24 in 2019 as a District Service and Advocacy project.
The aim of the project is to enable clubs to adopt service and advocacy projects intended to empower women and girls affected by the criminal justice system. One example is the provision of backpacks to women leaving prison filled with items such as toiletries, phone cards and other essentials.
