Zonta strives to improve status of women

To the editor:

Following a Zonta meeting, several restaurant patrons asked, "What is Zonta?" Zonta International is an organization that strives to improve the status of women worldwide. It was founded in 1919 and was modeled after Rotary International. Here are a few examples of what we do in our community and worldwide:

Following the tragic loss of a 16-year-old mother and her baby in a home fire, we purchased smoke detectors for 20 other teenage mothers who are participants in the Missouri Mentoring Partnership. We have distributed more than 9,000 literacy packets to needy children in Southeast Missouri. We provide several local scholarships each year. We sponsor the GED graduation celebrations. We provide support to the SEMO Network Against Sexual Violence, the Safe House for Women, Habitat for Humanity and Family Resource Center. We sponsor more than 20 local service projects each year.

Worldwide, we have helped to vaccinate 750,000 women for tetanus in Nepal. We have convinced 1,400 tribal chiefs to denounce female genital mutilation in Africa. We spoke out against the oppression of women by the Taliban in Afghanistan long before Sept. 11, 2001, and are helping to restore their education and social status.

There if much left to do. If Zonta can help you or your organization, please contact us. To learn more about our club, go to www.zontacapegirardeau.org.

CHERYL MOTHES

President

Zonta Club of Cape Girardeau

Cape Girardeau