WiIVES of members of the diplomatic community are doing their share in reaching out improving lives of individuals and groups in the country.
Recently, the Zonta Club of Makati, with its President Mita Rufino, wife of Portugal Consul Tony Rufino, held a fund-raising event in Taguig City to support its various civic projects.
The Zonta event was participated in by artisanal producers from the region who displayed unique items, including colorful bags, antique woods carved into useful decorations and furniture, woven products and jewelries.
She said the club gathers regional manufacturers of Filipino products, and pair them with creative artists, including designers from Citem, to assist in further developing their products and make them attractive for the international markets.
Rufino, along with Zonta Club of Makati former President Maritess Pineda, who is the wife Republic of Fiji Consul Jesus M. Pineda Jr., enumerated the numerous projects she is undertaking.
“We empower women and help those who are trustworthy and honest. Our Marilac project help abused children from 6 to 18 years old by providing them with psychological treatment for free,” Rufino said.
Rufino then mentioned their Kababaihan livelihood program, which educates housewives on entrepreneurship, microcredit budgeting, food costing, use of banking services and even marketing of products.
She then said they also finance the scholarship of promising female college students, especially those nearing graduation and are in the marginalized sector of society.
“Now we have 13 female senior engineering students in a field that is mostly dominated by men,” Rufino said proudly, while adding that since the start of the program, they have assisted 100 female engineering students, with most of them having found employment.
Rufino said they will look to expand the program next year and provide more scholarships to deserving students.
Meanwhile, Pineda cited the club’s Filipinas Lifestyle Fair, in which she is the chairman, for also raising funds for their various advocacies.
She cited the Marilac Home in Alabang, where their club takes care of battered women in the country. “We have empowered these women by turning them into entrepreneurs and teach them how to cook, sew, or engage in livelihood projects. We give them microcredit,” Pineda said, while adding that her husband, Consul Pineda, provided the initial funding by donating P100,000 to the project.
Pineda said the funds raised from their projects throughout the year will be used to pay doctors for treating battered women in their center.
“We partnered with the spouses of the heads of mission in the Philippines, and we were able to raise P400,000 to finance other projects. We are also thankful for other liked-minded partners and donors who helped us in our advocacies,” Pineda said.
Next month, Zonta will have 16 days of activism to support a United Nations-initiated project that aims to stop violence against women.
Then they will also hold the latest installment of “Bravo”, their search for outstanding women from different industries.
“We prefer the unsung heroes, those who have not been recognized before. At least the winners would finally be recognized, after many years, for their contribution to society,” Rufino said.
Rufino said they have more than 2,000 members from 17 districts, including those in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
Zonta is a leading international organization of professionals that empowers women worldwide through service and advocacy.