Advancing the status of women worldwide

30 January, 2015

MEDIA RELEASE

Young women recognized for their leadership

Wellington Mayor Celia-Wade-Brown hosted the 2015 Zonta International Young Women in Public Affairs Awards. The winners were Anna Collett and Brittany Young.

Anna, the winner of the Zonta Club of Wellington Award, is a former student at Wellington High School where, among many other things, she founded and lead the college Environmental Group, was a member of the Feminist Club and Amnesty International, as well as being involved with fundraising for an orphanage in Nepal. In practical activities she finds her direct connection with individuals, providing support and education and seeing the positive impact of her efforts most rewarding. An ambitious student, she plans to study environmental science and biology at Victoria University, working towards a PhD in these fields to become a leading climate change scientist.

Brittany, won the Zonta Mana Club Award. She attended Onslow College and now plans to study law and science, double majoring in development studies and international relations at Victoria University. Her college says, “Brittany is capable of making great contributions both to the local and wider community in the future. She has a real concern for socio-political issues and has the integrity to stand up and make a difference”.

Brittany’s involvement at Onslow College has been very impressive, a representative on the Year 13 council, and was a peer support mentor for the Year nines. Brittany attended Global Leadership for World Vision and Launching Leaders in 2014.

“The judges were very impressed with the high standard of applications which made the selection difficult. However, each of the young women had made significant contributions to their communities and were worthy of recognition,” says the Awards Coordinator, Sandra Daly.

The two winners will now go forward to the Zonta’s national competition, where US$1,000 award is available . The winner may then go forward to the Zonta international competition where ten awards of $US4,000 each are made each year.

In previous years, Mana and Wellington Zonta winners have gone on to win at national and international level. In the last five years, two Wellington recipients reached the international competition.

President of the Wellington Club, Dr Jan Pearson and President Linda Hall -Thorpe of Zonta Club of Mana presented their winner ‘s with a $500 prize and a bouquet of flowers .

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Background information on the Award

The Young Women in Public Affairs (YWPA) Awards programme recognises young women that demonstrated leadership skills and commitment to public service and civic causes and encourages them to continue their participation in public and political causes. Zonta International believes young women with these qualities are the key to women’s advancement in the field of public service. Since 1990 Zonta International has given awards to more than 550 women from 50 countries.

The inaugural winner of the international award, was New Zealander Kim Boyce Campbell then living in Christchurch. Past local winners include former MP, Holly Walker.

This Award recognises young women who have demonstrated some or all of the following qualities :
• Active commitment to volunteerism
• Experience in local or student government
• Volunteer leadership achievements
• Advocating in areas that further Zonta International’s mission of advancing the status of women worldwide.

• The YWPA official application form available online from http://www.zonta.org/WhatWeDo/InternationalPrograms/YoungWomeninPublicAffairsAwards.aspx )

ABOUT ZONTA

Founded in 1919 Zonta International is a global organisation of executives and professionals working together to advance the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy. More than 30,000 members belong to Zonta Clubs in 68 countries. Zontians all over the world volunteer their time, talents and support to local and international service projects, as well as scholarship programmes aimed at fulfilling Zonta’s mission and objectives.

Zonta is a women’s global service organisation. Our mission is to advance the status of women globally through service and advocacy.

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