March 2020 - Zonta Club of Perth Inc

We are all facing challenging times and it is important that we look out for each other.

Given the speed of actions associated with preventing the spread of Coronavirus, the Zonta Club of Perth will be doing its best to help ‘flatten the curve’. Our top priorities are to protect the health of our members and the wider community.

Therefore, we have agreed to cancel our monthly club face-to-face meetings and events until further notice.

We are working on how we can continue to further our mission through the use of electronic communication. This is a great opportunity for us all to learn new skills and be innovative in how we help our community.

We all have a responsibility to be sensible in stopping the spread. Washing hands, using sanitiser and keeping our distance—are actions that show we care for each other.

In coming weeks our challenge will be to look out for those in social isolation so they can keep connected. A phone call, an email or a note through the door is all it takes to connect to make sure they are OK.

Hopefully, the precautionary measures will work, the curve can be flattened and our health services will be able to cope.

We will keep you advised when normal club activities are able to resume. Until then, keep breathing, keep smiling and keep taking precautions.

Zonta International partners with UN Women on our Eid Bi Eid (Hand in Hand) project in Jordan to help Syrian refugees and Jordanian women get sustainable and decent employment. So with our close association, it is no surprise that, at a local level, members support the UN Women International Women’s Day (IWD) Breakfast.

This high profile event is held in the Perth Convention Centre from 7am and this year attracted around 800 early risers. UN Women were promoting the global theme of Generation Equality and pushing for more equality especially in education. We heard about the Second Chance project that is being piloted in 7 countries and Australia. Second Chance enables women and girls (whose education had been interrupted for various reasons) to complete their studies – and find work.

Half a billion of the world’s illiterate adults are women. This trend has not changed in 20 years. UN Women is actively working to change that.

Attendees were in awe of the stories shared by the panel members: UN Women’s Sonali Hedditch, along with local partners Luz Restrepo, CEO of SisterWorks and Wendy Yarnold, CEO of Real Futures.

Luz was a refugee who sought asylum in Australia from Colombia. When she arrived in Melbourne, she spoke no English and found herself to be illiterate in her new land. Within six months she had taught herself enough English to begin teaching other migrants – and in the process developed many tools to help make learning practical and engaging. Wendy focuses on giving a Second Chance to Aboriginal women in the Western Suburbs of Sydney, providing confidence as well as enabling women to learn so they can earn!

Zontians Vicky Nazer, Janice Dudley, Lennie McCall, Agnes Vacca and Carole Theobald enjoyed the morning and met up with Zonta friend, Anne-Banks McAllister.

Left to right: Lennie McCall, Carole Theobald, Anne Banks-McAllister, Vicky Nazer and Janice Dudley

Some members may remember that Anne and Carole had previously been convenors of this event, growing it from 100 to over 1000 people in a five year period. They were delighted to see the event continuing to be well supported – especially as it now has to compete with so many other IWD events!

International Women’s Day is on Sunday 8 March and members are looking forward to hearing who will be inducted into the WA Women’s Hall of Fame this year! Watch this space.

Left to right: Carole Theobald, Janice Dudley, Agnes Vacca and Vicky Nazer catch up at the end of the event.

Month: March 2020

Coronavirus Actions

Early risers at UN Women IWD Breakfast