A better world for women

“Imagine if everyone did something for someone else, what an amazing world we would live in.” Phillippa Jacobs-Lory, director of Zonta International, wonders ahead of International Women’s Day (IWD) on 8 March.

Phillippa attended her first Zonta meeting in March 2007, unaware of the organisation’s meaning, and the monumental impact it would soon have on her life. Enduring severe endometriosis for many years, Phillippa found solidarity and understanding in the Zonta community, who were raising awareness and fundraising around the condition in schools.

“Their dedication to improving the lives of young girls suffering from extreme pain resonated deeply with me. I knew right away that this was an organisation I wanted to be part of.” Over time, she has served in almost every role possible, from grassroots to the top level. The communities this organisation constructs are evidentiary of why women supporting women, in every way, is vital – and there is no better time than IWD to establish these practices in life.

Phillippa shares the Zonta vision, which recognises a global attitude all can adopt: “A world in which women’s rights are recognised as human rights and every woman can achieve her full potential. In such a world, women have access to all resources and are represented in decision-making positions on an equal basis with men. In such a world, no woman lives in fear of violence.”

Across 25 clubs in New Zealand and four in Christchurch, members engage in service, fundraising, advocacy, and offer scholarships, awards, and education for young female leaders. “When you have that many people helping, you do see the difference,” Phillippa says.

Celebration is instrumental in championing women, and IWD is the ideal opportunity for Zonta to do so. On Thursday 6 March from 5.30 to 7.30, Zonta Club of Christchurch-Canterbury is holding an evening open to the public to empower and uplift women in the community at the Richmond Club, 75 London St. “Zonta, as a global organisation, is dedicated to advancing the rights, education, and well-being of women and girls, uses IWD as a platform to bring women together, raise awareness of critical issues, and promote initiatives that drive real change,” Phillippa shares. “What better way to do this than in our community.”