Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley Improving the Lives of Women through Service, Advocacy and Awareness.

A Call to Zonta International (ZI) Convention in Nice, France -July 2 through July 6, 2016- brought together 1,432 members to elect officers, approve projects, resolutions,  standing rules, and revised by-laws for the 2016-2018 biennium.  ZI, a leading global organization of professionals, has over 30,000 members in 1,184 Clubs in 67 countries and Mongolia.  Meeting Zontians from all over the world supporting the same goals – empowering women worldwide through service and advocacy as they embrace “Say No to Violence Against Women” and strive toward gender-equality is exciting!
Past International President and Santa Clarita Valley (SCV) Club member, Dianne Curtis was present to help elect SCV Club member Sharon Langenbeck as ZI Vice President.  Kudos to both Dianne and Sharon for their contributions to empower women on the world stage.
A Non-governmental organization (NGO), ZI has consultative status with the United Nations (UN) and is a partner with UN Women to create a gender-equal world.  ZI also  has consultative and participatory status with the Council of Europe comprised of 47 European States to work toward equality and a life free of violence for all women.
ZI provides funding for the UN to implement three projects for the next biennium:  1) “Liberia Fistula” –  since 2008 more than 1000 women have received surgical treatment for internal injuries suffered during child birth; 200 survivors were reintegrated into their communities.   United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will administer   $1,000,000 to continue surgical treatment for 500 women and 350,000 will indirectly benefit from advocacy efforts;  2) “Let Us Learn Madagascar” – an integrated program for adolescent girls. Ninety percent (90%) of the population lives on less than $2 per day.   $1,000,000 will be administered by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to create opportunities for 1000 vulnerable an