Zonta Club of Houston provides virtual vocational classes to women's home clients

The mission of The Women’s Home (TWH) is to build communities that strengthen women and support families as they reclaim their stability. The agency offers housing and community-based support services to help prevent and end homelessness in the Houston, Texas, USA area. For the past several years, Zonta Club of Houston has provided a vocational series consisting of nine weekly two-hour sessions, which are offered on a quarterly basis. 

With the onset of COVID-19, club member volunteers were no longer able to present the in-person sessions. Volunteers worked with TWH’s Manager of Support Services to identify how Zonta could support all the residents during the shelter in place. 

In response, the club updated and added additional sessions, then began to transition to Zoom sessions with all clients participating in smaller groups with masks and social distanced. 

During this past service year, club members presented 41 virtual vocational sessions. Despite the pandemic, 85% of the clients participating in the vocational programs gained employment, while 15% went on to continuing education and training. Zonta has been recognized and honored by TWH as a valued volunteer group in the community.