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ZONTA targets men in fight against violence on Women & Girls

-And challenges the adult business population to get in tuned with the times and the world of youths
February 13th, 2015 | Tags: ZONTA violence women and girls youths
President Mrs Nona Vanterpool-Bonelli, center, and members of the organisation. Photo: Provided
Zontan Ms Anthea L. Smith interacts with the young men who participated in the FTM's Show Love seminar as she dealt with the topic Domestic Violence. Photo: VINO
Zontan Ms Anthea L. Smith interacts with the young men who participated in the FTM's Show Love seminar as she dealt with the topic Domestic Violence. Photo: VINO
The young men were engaged in topics such as Domestic Violence, Prison life, body tattooing and piercing, purpose of life, social media, peer pressure among others. Photo: VINO
The young men were engaged in topics such as Domestic Violence, Prison life, body tattooing and piercing, purpose of life, social media, peer pressure among others. Photo: VINO
One of several police officers who interacted with the young men. Photo: VINO
One of several police officers who interacted with the young men. Photo: VINO
Mr Deon K. Crabbe Managing Director of Autland Heavy Equipment was one of the facilitators of the day's sessions. Photo: VINO
Mr Deon K. Crabbe Managing Director of Autland Heavy Equipment was one of the facilitators of the day's sessions. Photo: VINO
The dangers and proper uses of various types of guns formed part of the seminar. Photo: VINO
The dangers and proper uses of various types of guns formed part of the seminar. Photo: VINO
The real deal of what prison life can be like was explained by a prison officer. Photo: VINO
The real deal of what prison life can be like was explained by a prison officer. Photo: VINO
Mr. Roger L. Mathavious, the General Manager of Supa Value Lld, was down as low as possible to level with the young men at the seminar. Photo: VINO
Mr. Roger L. Mathavious, the General Manager of Supa Value Lld, was down as low as possible to level with the young men at the seminar. Photo: VINO
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force breaking it down in real terms with the young men. Photo: VINO
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force breaking it down in real terms with the young men. Photo: VINO
Minister Melvin M. Turnbull of the Cane Garden Bay Baptist Church was his usual bundle of energy and plain simple, impressive self as he rapped with the young men. Photo: VINO
Minister Melvin M. Turnbull of the Cane Garden Bay Baptist Church was his usual bundle of energy and plain simple, impressive self as he rapped with the young men. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – When ZONTA made the conscious decision that they were going to collaborate with Follow The Movement (FTM) in being a key partner for the recently held ‘Show Love’ seminar, they had a basic objective; to reach out to the male folk who are more often than not the perpetrators of violence of all forms against women and children.

“Show Love” seminar was held on Wednesday February 11, 2015 at the upper floor of the UP's Cineplex and was attended by a large number of young men drawn from the secondary schools of the Virgin Islands (VI) as well as the tertiary institutions.

Several interesting topics saw a myriad of responses and in the space given to ZONTA the issue of domestic violence was a wave of discussion. According to ZONTA’s President Mrs Nona Vanterpool-Bonelli the young men were brought to a place of reality of the harsh consequences of being negatively abusive to women not only because of the pains it causes the opposite sex but the consequences they can land themselves in such as having to be before the courts, being incarcerated and such like.

“What I thought was even more impacting on them was when the question was put to them of how would they have felt should a man ever put hand on their girl child when they get to the stage of having such… that was a reality check for them,” said Mrs Vanterpool-Bonelli.

And while the seminar targeted the young men she said that it also created an atmosphere for all the facilitators to do a self-check owing to the fact that, based on the information shared by the young men, most adults of society today are disconnected from the world of the youths today.

“We as adults need to be able to level with these young people. They don’t see us as approachable and that is one thing that we as adults have to work on. Our young men must feel comfortable to come to use at any level. They need to see and know that we are there for them, we can assist them, we are the business people of this community and we are opened to doing things for them to keep them out of trouble,” she said.

She explained that while the seminar was a one day, one off event for the young men ZONTA in collaboration with FTM is now in the process of looking at ways that they can together continue to reach out to the young men. “We can’t leave them like that until next year again or what happened on Wednesday might very well count for nothing, we will be getting those young men in some other form or fashion, they need us and we have to find a way to show that we are there for them like we say,” said Mrs Vanterpool-Bonelli.

As an organization, ZONTA is focused on providing needed funds for counseling of women and girls who are victims of abuse. They are also very supportive of women’s health as they had in the early stages funded bills for mammograms but have since thought it best to allow the Cancer Society of the Virgin Islands to lead in that regards.

ZONTA Club of Tortola is a member of ZONTA International and was chartered in October 2011.

The goal of the Club is to provide service and advocacy to improve the lives of women in the Territory through its projects and to contribute to world-wide ZONTA International service projects.

ZONTA International is a global organisation of executives and professionals working together to advance the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy. In 2014 ZONTA International celebrated its 95th anniversary.

7 Responses to “ZONTA targets men in fight against violence on Women & Girls”

  • 2 mins (13/02/2015, 15:24) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    good idea but everybody wants there two mins in teh sun shine
  • Zonta Rocks!!! (13/02/2015, 16:28) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Great job ladies. It is this kind of interaction that we need with our young men. Ideally they could be hearing it from older men but if the women are willing to step up tot he plate and provide some guidance that's great too.
  • apple pie (13/02/2015, 19:19) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    But knowing the snails pace of HOW MEN REACT to things they do not like to do in this country, that could take a while.
  • cold heart people (13/02/2015, 19:54) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Why the humans of the BVI or the bloggers have to be so cold and shallow. Everyone is complaining about the youths this and the youths this... and when individual take it on themselves to use their own time and money cold hearts shallow mind people fast to say (everyone wants there spot light of fame) can you just for one in your life say (Thank you) if you're not a part of the solution then you are a part of the problems. That's why I'm doing my part without without posting on news site..... funny enough all who's talking about people looking spot light are better than most of you because they are trying. Stop being so cold heat and know that people actually care for this country/Youths and need the best for them and yes it dose takes the media to get the word out. If you're not supporting the cause - then your a part of the problems.

    Stop being so cold heart people it's only 13/2nd month of the year...it's like you all walk with your nasty attitudes from 2014. Some people will never change.

    Anyway keep on tying..don't mind the noise it's just distraction
  • cay (13/02/2015, 20:45) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Go girls and guys!!!!
  • shelia (13/02/2015, 21:28) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    how do teh small girls join this group or do you have to be a bigger?
  • Ghost Writer. (15/02/2015, 08:16) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    What about the violence on men and boys? Level the vibes and the field.


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