Raising Awareness on Women’s Rights A short seminar on the Magna Carta of Women — zeroing in on the role and rights of women in society — was conducted by Zonta Club of Iloilo City II last July 20 at the Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Chapel seminar hall for some 25 selected young housewives from Zone 1 of Calumpang, Iloilo City, the club’s adopted community upon the recommendation of the DSWD as one of the city’s depressed areas. The short seminar highlighted the existing gender-related inequalities and abuses some barangay women experience in the homes and communities, and measures these women can personally effect to change attitudes and behavior and to uphold their dignity in the light of existing laws protecting them. Challenging the participants to rise above their present status was noted women’s rights advocate and resource person Ramona Espinosa. An offshoot of the seminar was the formal organization of the participants into a core group of empowered women, who will also be the priority end-beneficiaries of the club’s future service and other advocacy-related initiatives geared towards their continuous growth, development and advancement. Forthcoming are the following projects they requested: 1.) a values orientation and a livelihood skills training on massage and cosmetology; and 2.) a short seminar for husbands (mostly carpenters, tricycle drivers, vendors, peddlers, etc.) residing in Zone 1, in order to raise their levels of consciousness on the rights of women, and to instill in them an appreciation and understanding of the role their wives play as partners and allies in strengthening families and the community.

TEACHING THE MARGINALIZED TO "FISH" IS ZONTA'S WAY TO UPLIFT THE STATUS OF WOMEN

"SMALL AND SIMPLE FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS" A CLASS BY LYNNIE DENILA

CARDS DONE BY THE GIRLS FROM A CLASS BY MARISSA HORTILLAS ENTITLED "CARDMAKING FOR FUND RAISING"

with AREA DIRECTOR MIEL...visiting project sites

Teaching easy skills to the girls at Cabatuan Girls Home

Spending time with the girls at Cabatuan Girls Home...teaching the girls how to craft and make handmade cards