Zonta Club of Accra II marks 30 years of empowering women, girls
The Zonta Club of Accra II has launched a year-long celebration to mark its 30th anniversary, highlighting three decades of advocacy, education and community service for women and girls in the country.
The launch, held in Accra last Friday, was on the theme: “30 Years of Empowering Women and Girls through Advocacy, Service and Partnerships”, brought together members, beneficiaries, institutional partners and other stakeholders.
The President of the club, Merley Wood, described the anniversary as a milestone defined not only by longevity but by the impact made in improving the welfare of women and girls.
“Today, we celebrate not just a date, but a journey of 30 years of empowering women and girls through advocacy, service and partnerships,” she said.
Scholarship impact
Mrs Wood cited the club’s Girls Scholarship Project, introduced in 2015, as one of its key interventions.
She said six girls who enrolled on the programme at the primary level were now Level 200 students in various universities, pursuing courses such as veterinary medicine, food technology, public health, business administration and the arts.
According to her, the club would continue to support the beneficiaries with annual scholarships throughout their tertiary education.
She added that a new group of girls from the Teshie Salem Presbyterian Primary School had been enrolled on the programme to sustain its impact.
Health, advocacy
Beyond education, Mrs Wood said the club had contributed to healthcare delivery through partnerships, explaining that in 2018, the club, in collaboration with the Australian High Commission and GCB Bank, renovated the Chenard Ward of a health facility in Accra and had since maintained support under a 10-year memorandum of understanding.
She added that the club had also undertaken health screening exercises, mentorship programmes and advocacy campaigns against gender-based violence and child marriage.
Leadership contribution
Mrs Wood further noted that the club had contributed to leadership within Zonta International, with three of its members serving as District Governors and two as International Directors.
She said five Zonta clubs within District 18, including Accra, Tema, Accra II, Metropolitan and Jubilee, continued to champion women’s rights across the country.
Beneficiary
A member of the club and former scholarship beneficiary, Dr Baaba Jones, shared her journey, describing how she lost both parents by the age of 13 and had to rely on the support of her aunt to continue her education.
She said she received a scholarship from the Zonta Club of Accra II in 2004 while pursuing a degree in Biological Science at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
“At the time, I simply saw it as a helping hand,” she said, adding that the support contributed significantly to her academic and professional journey.
Dr Jones said she later obtained a Master’s degree and a PhD, and formally joined the club in 2021, where she was currently serving in various leadership roles.
“I am because someone believed. Today, I serve because I believe in others,” she said.
Background
Zonta International, founded in 1919, is a global organisation with more than 1,100 clubs in 64 countries, working to advance the status of women and girls through advocacy and service.
