Service Projects
The Zonta Club of Noosa supports projects both locally and internationally through its fundraising efforts. Each year our funds are distributed to a range of worthy projects.
2024-2025 Local Projects
Rise 2 Foundation
The RISE2 Foundation transforms lives. Their innovative program provides safe and secure emergency accommodation for women and children affected by domestic and family violence across the Sunshine Coast. RISE2 properties are more than a place to shelter – they are a home. With the expertise of network partners, including The Salvation Army, RISE2 provides access to wraparound support and counselling services to give families the chance to Restart In a Safe Environment.
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The Zonta Club of Noosa is distributing a share of its fundraising earnings to the Rise 2 Foundation this year.
DV Safe Phone
At DV Safe Phone, they’re working toward a future where domestic violence victims are empowered to live safe, connected lives through sustainable technology solutions.​
Since 2020, they've collected, repaired and distributed free mobile phones to domestic violence (DV) victims through our nationwide network of more than 400 agency partners (DV agencies, police stations, hospitals and safe houses).
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The Zonta Club of Noosa is distributing a share of its fundraising earnings to DV Safe Phones this year.
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Zonta International Projects
Climate Empower
Emerging evidence shows the direct and indirect impacts of climate change on women and girls and their sexual and reproductive health and rights. Climate challenges are fueled by persistent and deeply rooted discriminatory sociocultural norms that justify or tolerate violence against women and girls and limit their autonomy in many areas of life (i.e., education, healthcare, economic empowerment), especially women and girls in rural areas.
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For the next two years, Zonta International has committed US$1,000,000 to the UNFPA program: Climate Empower: Community Empowerment and Innovation for Gender-Transformative Climate Action to prevent climate-induced gender-based violence (GBV) and other harmful practices through interwoven innovative approaches and community-driven in Madagascar, Mozambique and South Sudan, some of the countries most vulnerable to climate change globally.
Ending Child Marriage
Globally, one in every five girls is formally married or in an informal union before reaching 18 years of age. Health crises, conflicts and climate change are increasing the risks of child marriage for millions of girls worldwide.
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It is estimated that there will be 10 million additional child brides over the course of the 2020s due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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A tenfold increase in conflict-related deaths correlates with a 7% increase in child marriage.
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A 10% change in rainfall due to climate change is associated with a 1% increase in child marriage.
Zonta has supported ending child marriage since 2014, contributing US$2 million to delay early marriage in Niger from 2014-2018. Since then Zonta contributed US$3.5 million to the UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme to End Child Marriage and US$1.2 million to support Phase II of the project. 2024 marked the beginning of Phase III for the Global Programme and over the next two years, Zonta International has committed US$1.5 million to support the project.​​
Laaha: A Virtual Safe Space for Women and Girls
One in three women experience violence in their lifetime and 12 million girls are married before they reach the age of 18. Violence is exponentially made worse during humanitarian crises such as climate-based disasters, areas experiencing civil unrest, and impoverished populations.
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Laaha, the first-ever digital web-based platform created by UNICEF with women and girls from crisis-affected regions, strives to increase knowledge on gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) through quality and accurate information to women and girls, and to reduce isolation by building safe spaces of support for adolescent girls through peer-to-peer connection on a moderated user forum.
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For the next two years, Zonta International has committed US$750,000 to UNICEF USA to support Laaha and provide quality and accurate information to girls and women about menstrual health and hygiene, healthy relationships, how to stay safe and know one’s rights, financial literacy, female anatomy and services for women and girls facing violence.