Helping women in developing countries has been a passion of Zontians since the organization was founded in 1919. Today, Zonta's International Service Program continues to help women in developing countries improve their legal, political, economic, educational and health status. Through funding from the Zonta International Foundation, the Program has provided training, education, health, sanitation, agricultural and micro-credit assistance to women, primarily through projects implemented by the agencies of the United Nations and other recognized non-governmental organizations.
 

Since 1923, Zonta has provided more than US$11 million to projects benefiting more than 2 million women in 37 countries.

During the 2010-2012 Biennium, three projects are being supported by the International Service Program Fund:

• Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV and Gender-Based Violence in Rwanda

Funding: US$500,000 to UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund)
Women and children in Rwanda are still vulnerable to the repercussions of the genocide and war that took place 16 years ago.  Treating HIV-positive women, preventing transmission of the virus to their offspring, and ensuring access to health care and reproductive services, as well as preventing and responding to the violence awoken by the brutalization of the society during the genocide, are critical issues for the development of Rwanda and the safety of its women and children.  Building on the success of the project during the 2008-2010 Biennium, the project will continue focus on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV by providing the full range of family package services at 20 UNICEF-supported PMTCT sites throughout Rwanda during the 2010-2012  Biennium.  In addition, the project will seek to expand holistic care and services at support centers for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence to ensure access to proper medical, legal, psychosocial and police support. PROJECT DESCRIPTION | PROJECT UPDATE OCTOBER 2011 | PROJECT UPDATE MARCH 2011 | PMTCT VIDEO | IN RWANDA, CENTRE PROVIDES A REFUGE FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STORY (PDF)

• Safe Cities for Women Project in Guatemala City, Guatemala and San Salvador, El Salvador

Funding: US$500,000 to UN Women (The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women)
In Guatemala and El Salvador, rates of urban violence and violent homicides are above the already high regional average and women are at an even greater risk of violence due to the traditionally subordinate position of women in society. During the first phase of the project, significant results were achieved in both Guatemala and El Salvador.  In Guatemala, women's organizations submitted proposals to local authorities to improve public spaces and identified insecure spaces which led to the transformation of an abandoned house to a day shelter for people living with HIV/AIDS.  In El Salvador, a map of unsafe places determined by the perceptions of local women was presented to the local authorities who are committed to implementing recommendations to make these areas safer for women.  For the next phase of the project, efforts will be focused on increasing visibility and impact by disseminating information on violence against women in the most violence districts of both cities and replicating the experience in all districts of the capital cities.  The project will also expand to incorporate the issue of violence against women in the context of HIV/AIDS. PROJECT DESCRIPTION | SUCCESS STORY AUGUST | SUCCESS STORY SEPTEMBER | SUCCESS STORY OCTOBER | SUCCESS STORY NOVEMBER | SUCCESS STORY DECEMBER | SUCCESS STORY JANUARY

• Towards Elimination of Obstetric Fistula and the Reduction of Maternal and Newborn Mortality and Morbidity in Liberia
  

Funding: US$500,000 to UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund)
With properly trained surgeons, well-equipped facilities and the necessary aftercare, the treatment of uncomplicated obstetric fistula has a 90% success rate. The cost is a mere US$300, a small sum to many but well beyond the means of the average woman in Liberia. Building upon the experiences and progress achieved thus far, UNFPA, with Zonta's support, will continue to provide fistula treatment through the proper equipment of health care facilities and the training and capacity strengthening of health care providers to treat fistula.  The project will also continue to focus on the reintegration of survivors while raising awareness and conducting outreach among communities and health care providers about the definition, causes and treatment of obstetric fistula. PROJECT DESCRIPTION | FREEDOM FROM FISTULA VIDEO | BACK TO LIFE: PROMOTING THE REINTEGRATION OF FISTULA SURVIVORS IN LIBERIA (VIDEO) | LIFE AFTER FISTULA STORY (PDF)  | PROGRAM SITE VISIT REPORT - PRESIDENT ELECT LYNN MCKENZIE | STORY ABOUT SITE VISIT ON UNFPA WEBSITE | LIBERIA FISTULA PROJECT PRESENTATION | PROJECT UPDATE OCTOBER 2011

The Zonta International Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals or requests for funding.