A CENTURY OF ACTION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS ZONTA INTERNATIONAL ZONTA FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN 2019–2020 ANNUAL REPORT MISSION WE EMPOWER WOMEN Zonta International is a leading global organization of professionals empowering women worldwide through service and advocacy. 28,091 VISION members Zonta International envisions a world in which women’s rights are recognized as human 1,143 rights and every woman is able to achieve clubs her full potential. 63 countries In such a world, women have access to all resources and are represented in decision 31 making positions on an equal basis with men. districts In such a world, no woman lives in fear of violence. 1 region As of 31 May 2020 Above: © UNICEF/UNI179332/Lynch Cover: Top right: © UNICEF; Center right: © UN Women/Christopher Herwig Annual Report 2019–2020 | 3 DEAR ZONTIANS AND SUPPORTERS OF ZONTA On behalf of Past International President Susanne von Bassewitz and the 2018–2020 Zonta International and Zonta International Foundation Boards, I am pleased to share with you the 2020 Zonta International and Zonta Foundation for Women Annual Report for 1 June 2019 to 31 May 2020. For more than 100 years, Zontians have taken action to provide a better future for women and girls. In the 2018-2020 Biennium, our dedicated donors contributed more than US$5.8 million to support Zonta International’s projects and programs and the Centennial Anniversary Endowment Campaign. In addition to securing Zonta’s ability to continue to meet the needs of future generations of women and girls through our endowment funds, this outpouring of generosity allowed us to support women and girls right now who are experiencing violence and/or are susceptible to child marriage, living in unsafe conditions or lacking access to quality education, health care and economic opportunities. Since Zonta’s founding more than 100 years ago, we have actively helped millions of women in nearly 120 countries through our service projects and education programs. In the last two years, Zonta provided fellowships, scholarships and awards to 217 women and girls pursuing education and careers in the fields of aerospace-applied engineering or science, business, technology and public affairs. We also provided education opportunities for thousands of girls in Madagascar, offered gender-based violence support to more than 3,500 women in Jordan and reached nearly 8 million girls in 12 countries through targeted efforts to end child marriage. Though many planned activities, such as the 64th Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Zonta made its voice heard. Zontians around the world participated in our Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign; we were represented at The Nairobi Summit on ICPD25; the Zonta USA Caucus launched a joint billboard campaign with UNICEF USA to end child marriage; we engaged in discussions around Beijing+25, and more. We continue to remain committed to being part of these global conversations and advocacy initiatives. In 2020, the Zonta International Foundation changed its name to the Zonta Foundation for Women to elevate our visibility and better align the foundation’s name with our globally recognized mission and commitment to women and girls worldwide. The refreshed Zonta Foundation for Women will more clearly illustrate our commitment to realizing the vision for gender equality our founders laid out more than 100 years ago. As we enter a new century, we are as dedicated as ever to taking action to achieve gender equity and improve the lives of women and girls around the world. In addition to the continuing support of our education fellowships, scholarships and awards, Let Us Learn Madagascar, and the Global Programme to End Child Marriage, Zontians voted in July 2020 to start funding two new projects—Adolescent Girls’ Health and Protection in Peru and Delivering Survivor-Centered Response to Gender-Based Violence Survivors in Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your steadfast support of Zonta International and the Zonta Foundation for Women. We would not be where we are today without you, and we are beyond grateful for your generosity. Warm regards, Sharon Langenbeck, Ph.D. President, 2020-2022 Zonta International and Zonta Foundation for Women 4 | Zonta International + Zonta Foundation for Women ZONTA FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN Since our first service project in 1923, Zonta International has helped millions of women and girls. This map represents the 118 countries in which we have had service projects or a recipient of one of our fellowships, scholarships and awards held citizenship. LUXEMBORG ANDORRA NORTH MACEDONIA CHINA LEBANON AFGHANISTAN ISRAEL ROC TAIWAN HONG KONG SIERRA LEONE ETHIOPIA COMOROS ISLANDS MAURITIUS NEW ZEALAND Annual Report 2019–2020 | 5 ZONTA FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN LUXEMBORG ANDORRA NORTH MACEDONIA CHINA LEBANON AFGHANISTAN ISRAEL ROC TAIWAN HONG KONG SIERRA LEONE ETHIOPIA COMOROS ISLANDS MAURITIUS NEW ZEALAND 6 | Zonta International + Zonta Foundation for Women Educating women and girls is the key to success Zonta International believes we must educate women and girls so that they have opportunities to be self-reliant and financially independent. An investment in educating female students yields high returns. It has the power to break cycles of poverty, foster economic growth and empower women both in the home and workplace. Educating women and girls leads to healthier families and stronger communities. Unfortunately, access to educational and professional opportunities is not universal. Globally, women make up at least 40% of the workforce; however, in the fields of aerospace, business, technology and politics, the gender gap is much wider. Since the Amelia Earhart (AE) Fellowship, Zonta International’s first education program, was founded in 1938, our generous donors have enabled Zonta International to provide more than US$12.7 million to women and girls in these traditionally male-dominated fields through the AE Fellowship, Jane M. Klausman ( JMK) Women in Business Scholarship, Women in Technology Scholarship (pilot program) and the Young Women in Public Affairs (YWPA) Award. Amelia Earhart Fellowship US$300,000 awarded to 30 women from 15 countries Just 25% of the workforce in the aerospace industry consists of women. Zonta International’s AE Fellowship enables talented women from around the world, who are pursuing doctorate degrees in aerospace-applied sciences or aerospace-applied engineering, to invest in state-of-the-art equipment to conduct their research, present their research at international conferences, and participate in specialized studies. Since 1938, Zonta has awarded 1,573 Amelia Earhart Fellowships, totaling US$10.3 million, to 1,174 women pursuing Ph.D./doctoral degrees in aerospace-applied sciences or aerospace-applied engineering. The 2019 Amelia Earhart Fellows, diverse in their backgrounds and research fields, exhibit exceptional promise in advancing research in the fields of aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, space robotics and more. “Receiving this prestigious fellowship not only provides tremendous assistance in my scholarly objectives, but also motivates me to continue striving for success in the aerospace sector. I have always aspired to lead groundbreaking advances in aerospace engineering and being associated with one of the most inspirational pioneers, Ms. Amelia Earhart, is one of the highest forms of recognition I can imagine.” —2019 AE Fellow Katherine Kokmanian, Canada Learn more about the Amelia Earhart Fellowship at www.zonta.org/aefellowship. Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship US$112,000 awarded to 32 women from 16 countries While women have made great strides in pursuing education, career and leadership roles they were once denied, they are still a minority of leaders in the business world. Only 21.2% of S&P companies’ board seats are occupied by females, while just 5.8% of those companies’ CEOs are women. Zonta International has awarded 602 JMK Women in Business Scholarships, totaling more than US$1.4 million, to 460 women pursuing degrees in business management since 1998. The 2019 JMK Women in Business Scholars, with a wide range of personal and professional backgrounds, demonstrate outstanding potential in the fields of business, economics, accounting and more. “Words cannot express how incredibly thankful and honored I am to have been selected as one of this year’s recipients. … This gift will not only help to support my financial needs in the present, but also help to ensure my success in the future and allow for me to achieve my dreams.” —2019 JMK Women in Business Scholar Victoria Rice, USA Learn more about the JMK Women in Business Scholarship at www.zonta.org/jmkscholarship. Annual Report 2019–2020 | 7 Women in Technology Scholarship (pilot program) US$108,000 to 30 women in 23 countries Only 25% of computing jobs are held by women. To create a world in which men and women have equal opportunities, women need to have an active role in technology and technological developments. In 2019, Zonta International introduced its pilot Women in Technology Scholarship to encourage women to pursue education, career opportunities and leadership roles in technology. In the scholarship’s first year, Zonta awarded US$108,000 to 30 women, who are studying a range of fields, including computer science, information technology, informatics and more. “I feel deeply fortunate and grateful for [the Women in Technology] Scholarship. … I will now be able to seek and take all opportunities to maximize the potential and reach of my research without these financial limitations. I am excited that this will help me have the greatest possible impact in improving education, especially for women and other underrepresented groups.” —2019 Women in Technology Scholar Jessica McBroom, Australia The Women in Technology Scholarship will continue with a second pilot cycle in the 2020-2022 Biennium. Learn more at www.zonta.org/womenintech.