INTERNATIONAL service organisation, ZONTA, yesterday launched its 23 international district 18 conference in Accra.
The conference will bring together over 200 Zontians from the East and West African Regions which include Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin and delegates drawn from like-minded global organisations.
The conference, which will be held on the theme: “The new Zonta Generation, our Rebirth, Recruit, and Retain,” is scheduled to take place from the 19 -23 of April 2017.
In an address, the conference chairperson, Mrs. Opeibea Omaboe, explained that Zonta was coined from ‘Lakota Zonta,’ meaning ‘honest’ or ‘trustworthy.’
She said the conference will be a time for the district members of Zonta to come together and make important decisions, relevant to the advancement of women and children.
She stated that there will be other activities such as election of new leaders and the sharing of ideas that will benefit the club.
She noted that the conference was in line with the annual district conferences held in the host country of the Zonta District Governor, which is fine-tuned to be in line with the UN Strategic Development Goals (SDGs).
Mrs. Omaboe was hopeful this year’s conference will highlight Ghana’s warm hospitality, display Ghana’s culture and fashion and sample the country’s sumptuous cuisine as well.
For her part, District 18 Governor of Zonta International, Anne-Marie French Cudjoe, added that Zonta was an all-women organisation which aims at battling violence against women and children, and to provide shelter for those who live in fear of their lives or live with abusive husbands.
She noted that the organisation also helps women to acquire skills and put them back into schools where they can acquire knowledge.
She explained that the biggest challenge faced by Zonta was the loss of members.
“However, with great donations the organisation was able to implement various projects to improve the livelihood of women and children worldwide.”
Story by Mizpah Etornam Mensavie-Ayivor
