Leadership Rewarded

Congratulations to Hannah Ward, a former pupil at Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, this year’s winner of the Zonta Club of Wellington Young Woman in Public Affairs Award. She was presented with her award recently at a ceremony hosted by Porirua Deputy Mayor Ana Coffey.

Hannah received a certificate and a cheque for $1,000 and now joins winners from other clubs in New Zealand in the quest to find a national winner to take part in the Zonta International Young Woman in Public Affairs Award.

The Zonta award which has been in existence since 1990 is aimed at young women in year 13 intending to commence tertiary education. The winner has to demonstrate leadership qualities within their schools and communities as well as academic ability.

“This is certainly true of Hannah”, says Rayoni Keith, President of the Zonta Club of Wellington. “In 2015, Hannah attended the Student Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Wellington, representing Sri Lanka. She has been elected a general member of the 2016 United Nations Youth Wellington Regional Council and will do voluntary work with UN Youth.

Hannah believes that empowering women is important to make progress as a global community and like Zonta’s mission, she has already set an example and inspires others through activism and service”.

Hannah has been involved in a number of community service activities attending
St Johns, being part of Aotearoa Youth Declaration, where she considered social development issues and made numerous recommendations that influenced policy changes in Parliament. In addition, she worked at the Somali Homework Centre, tutoring young people to help them improve their grades. Most recently she was a Logistics Officer for Crisis Model UN.

Hannah is no stranger to advocacy, she has been involved with fundraising for Girl Rising, CanTeen and “Small World” an orphanage that provides education for 30 Nepalese girls.

Zonta’s Wellington Regional Coordinator, Michelle Robinson says, “the standard of the applications for the Young Women in Public Affairs Award was exceptional and the five finalists all accomplished young women. “As a community we need to support and reward young people like these, who are the leaders of the future. We must encourage them to pursue decision-making positions in their communities so they can make an impact on the policies that affect the lives of women locally and throughout the world”.

Hannah plans to embark on a conjoint Law and Arts degree at Victoria University majoring in Development Studies as well as studying International Relationships.

Melissa Bailey from Whitby, was the winner of the Zonta Club of Mana Region. She attended Aotea College.

The Zonta Club of Wellington is part of an international service organization of executive and professional women which aims to advance the status of women.

ENDS

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