40 YEARS
Inspiring Impact: Zonta Foundation for Women Quarterly Report
Throughout time, women’s contributions have too often been minimized, overlooked or outright erased From groundbreaking scientists to visionary leaders and brave activists, women have shaped the world we live in, yet their stories are frequently absent from our textbooks, museums and public consciousness. This erasure is not accidental. It is a result of long-standing structural inequalities that have devalued women’s work and restricted their access to education, leadership and influence.
Consider the "discovery" of DNA's double helix. While James Watson and Francis Crick are celebrated, Rosalind Franklin's X-ray diffraction images, vital to their work, were largely overlooked for decades Similarly, countless women throughout history, remain anonymous This pattern of omission teaches us a skewed history, one that suggests women have been passive observers rather than active agents of change When young girls and women do not see themselves reflected in the achievements of the past, it limits their aspirations and reinforces the idea that their potential is inherently less. It perpetuates a cycle where women's contributions continue to be undervalued in the present.
Correcting this imbalance starts with investing in women’s and girls’ potential and ensuring their achievements are celebrated and remembered That is why supporting Zonta International’s educational awards is so essential Programs like the Amelia Earhart Fellowship, Zonta Young Women in Leadership Award, Zonta Women in Business Leadership Award and Zonta Women in STEM Award do more than provide financial support They open doors to academic and professional spaces where women have been historically underrepresented. These awards empower women and girls to pursue careers in fields where their voices and perspectives are critically needed and cultivate a new generation of leaders, who are not only breaking barriers, but documenting their journeys and creating a legacy that will not be so easily erased Each Zonta awardee becomes part of a growing network of women changing the narrative, one achievement at a time
Supporting these awards is more than philanthropy; it is a statement of belief in equity, progress, and the importance of preserving women's stories By investing in women’s and girls’ education today, we ensure that their innovations, leadership and impact will not only be remembered and celebrated in the historical record but shape a more gender-equal and prosperous future for all.
History is not complete without women With Zonta’s support, we can make sure that the future is not only more equitable, but also more accurate because every woman deserves to be seen, heard and remembered
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NEW ZONTA AWARDS
Ten exceptional women will receive a US$10,000 award and a complimentary one-year supporting membership in Zonta International, celebrating their leadership and entrepreneurial spirit
Eligibility:
Women, aged 18-35 at the time of application, who exhibit leadership in business, entrepreneurial spirit, ethical conduct, and have made significant contributions to issues affecting women and girls or climate change
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Sixteen women will receive a US$10,000 award and a complimentary one-year supporting membership in Zonta International, uplifting their achievements in STEM
Eligibility:
Women, aged 18-35 years old at the time of application, who demonstrate groundbreaking research, pioneering discoveries and/or exemplary contributions to advancing knowledge and innovation in a STEM field of study or industry
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MEET PALAK PATEL: ADVANCING HUMAN EXPLORATION BEYOND EARTH
2025 Amelia Earhart (AE) Fellow Palak Patel is a Ph D student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), conducting research in the NECST Lab within the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics She is also a NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunities Fellow at NASA Langley Research Center, where she develops multifunctional materials for extreme environments critical to human deep space exploration. Palak works on materials for lunar dust mitigation and ablative thermal protection systems. She completed her undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering at Pandit Deendayal Energy University in India, where she collaborated with the Indian Space Research Organization on space technologies.
BCC News recently interviewed Palak Patel about some of the exciting work she and her colleagues worked on last year.
“We’re really looking at it from the standpoint of, ‘Let’s try to minimize the number of resupply missions,’” said Palak
Palak says that future resource-extracting machines on the moon could derive iron, titanium or lithium from regolith, for example These materials might help astronauts living on the moon make 3D-printed spare parts for their moon base or replacement components for damaged spacecraft and potentially build structures on the moon
Outside of research, Palak is committed to safety, mentorship and outreach. She is a mentor and safety officer for MIT’s MakerWorkshop, an environmental health and safety officer, a graduate residential advisor and leads STEM outreach. After her Ph.D., she plans to advance human spaceflight technologies and support human exploration beyond Earth. In her free time, she enjoys soccer, painting, running and the outdoors.
MEETCHEUKYULEUNG: ADVOCATING FOR SOCIAL CAUSES
Cheuk Yu Leung from Hong Kong is an inspiring recipient of the 2025 Zonta Young Women in Leadership Award A dedicated student leader at St Paul’s Secondary School, she embodies commitment through her roles as school prefect, president of the Community Youth Club and peer group counseling assistant In her role as a counseling assistant, Cheuk Yu has facilitated workshops that empower Form 1 students to navigate school life with confidence, focusing on stress management and peer support.
Outside the classroom, Cheuk Yu passionately advocates for social causes. As an Orbis Ambassador, she has successfully raised more than HK$30,000 for preventable eye diseases through engaging initiatives such as an “Eye Care Experience Day” and a teacherstudent fundraising concert. Her volunteer work at Grantham Hospital highlights her dedication to aiding elderly patients with mobility and offering companionship. In her capacity as a mental health youth ambassador with the Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists, she leads workshops aimed at promoting mental wellbeing among teens and combating stigma surrounding mental health
During a Mainland Study Tour on Citizenship and Social Development, Cheuk Yu was deeply moved when she came across a panda statue (right) The panda, which represents China’s national treasure, sparked her understanding of national identity and social responsibility She expresses her creativity through drawing and painting, with a focus on landscapes and animal sketches, while also nurturing her curiosity through reading about human behavior. Aspiring to become an occupational therapist, she aims to support children and the elderly with disabilities. Through her leadership, empathy and unwavering dedication, she inspires others to cultivate a more caring and inclusive community, demonstrating that kindness has the power to transform lives.
Cheuk Yu poses with a panda statue during her Mainland Study Tour on Citizenship
BANGLADESH REFLECTIONS WITH PRESIDENT SALLA
In December 2024, the UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme to End Child Marriage Steering Committee embarked on a transformative site visit to Bangladesh Zonta International, a vital partner in this mission, was represented by International President Salla Tuominen, who joined the visit as a member of the Steering Committee.
In Dhaka, the committee engaged with the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and other partner ministries, laying the groundwork for impactful collaboration. Their journey continued to Khulna, where they were warmly welcomed and briefed by the dedicated Global Programme Bangladesh Country and Field Teams
In Khulna, the group was inspired as they interacted with beneficiaries of educational programs, played football with enthusiastic youths, connected with adolescent girls involved in an aspiration-building initiative, and learned about essential social protection and health programming. The trip was a powerful opportunity to witness the programme’s impact firsthand and strengthen partnerships for a brighter future. Watch the video above to see and hear more about President Salla’s site visit.
