Engaging audiences and allies to promote sustainable change for women and girls

The Zonta e-Club of Latvia, Latvia, operates based on the belief that sustainable change is possible through cooperation. That is why local and international partnerships are an essential tool for implementing Zonta's mission at the local level. By creating diverse networks of cooperation with like-minded organizations, institutions and allies both in Latvia and internationally. The club puts Zonta International's mission into practice—to create a world where women and girls enjoy equal rights, opportunities, and security. This approach is fully in line with both Zonta International's Strategic Goal No. 4 - Engagement of Audiences & Allies, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, in particular SDG No. 17 - Partnerships for the Goals.

The Zonta e-Club of Latvia is actively involved in international cooperation in the field of violence prevention, participating in Erasmus+ projects aimed at promoting systemic and sustainable change. One of the most significant examples of this cooperation is the Erasmus+ strategic partnership project MEDUSA – "Rewriting media narratives on gender-based violence", which aims to improve how the media portrays violence against women. The project offers a comprehensive approach to strengthening professional capacity by providing training modules, guidelines, case study materials, and a digital platform for content creators on violence against women – journalists, journalism students, and communication professionals. It promotes responsible, respectful and human rights-based communication, reducing stereotypes and secondary victimization in the public sphere. The project thus makes a significant contribution to SDG 5 – gender equality – and SDG 16 – peace, justice and strong institutions, confirming the important role of the media in preventing violence and changing public attitudes.

The Erasmus+ Small Partnership Project "Green Start” focuses on empowering women with limited opportunities by developing green, digital, and leadership skills as a foundation for a sustainable future, as well as strengthening women's ability to actively participate in social and economic processes. By acquiring practical knowledge about sustainable lifestyles, women are able to implement environmentally friendly practices in their daily lives and get involved in environmental and climate initiatives. At the same time, digital skills expand economic opportunities by providing access to remote work, lifelong learning, and entrepreneurship, thereby promoting financial independence and social inclusion. It should be noted that the project contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals – SDGs 5, 8, 10, and 13, confirming that women's empowerment is an essential prerequisite for sustainable social development. At the regional level, cooperation between the Baltic and Nordic countries is being implemented in the project "Coaching for Equality in Practice", which aims to strengthen the use of coaching as an effective tool for promoting gender equality and women's opportunities, as well as preventing violence, including digital violence. The project develops club members' practical skills in working with sensitive topics safely and ethically, teaching methods for strengthening women's self-confidence, awareness of personal boundaries, and violence prevention. The project promotes the creation of safer, more respectful communities by directly contributing to SDG No. 5 – gender equality and SDG No. 3 – good health and well-being, and demonstrates the importance of the coaching approach in strengthening both individual resilience and community well-being.

An important step in strengthening local cooperation is the participation of the Zonta e-club of Latvia in the Women's NGOs Cooperation Network – a platform that brings together Latvian women's organizations for joint action, exchange of experience and advocacy. Participation in this network allows the Zonta e-Club to influence public processes more effectively.