Zonta Club of Brussels Zavel hosts award ceremony

On 19 April, the Zonta Club of Brussels Zavel, Belgium, organized an awards ceremony at the Brussels City Hall.

The awards ceremony had three awards to hand out: the Young Women in Public Affairs (YWPA) award, the Jane M. Klausman (JMK) Women in Business Scholarship and the Zonta Encouragement Prize.

This year, the club awarded the YWPA award to Hanya Rachid from RC Dilbeek for her demonstrated leadership and exemplary volunteer activities inside and outside of school.

Kaat Lambrechts became this year's Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholar at club and district levels. 

The club offered this year's Zonta Encouragement Prize to Olivia Lastra for her impressive master thesis entitled "Speaking Truth to Power." The thesis is a feminist care-ethical perspective on the moral courage of Mary Wollstonecraft's "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman."

Hassan Al Hilou, a 21-year-old entrepreneur, was invited to be the keynote speaker. Throughout the evening, he inspired the public with his testimonial.

Hassan is the founder of Youth Talks, a platform that helps Brussels youths exchange ideas and debate about various topics. He is also the founder of Capital, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that aims to increase the social mobility of youths in the area through training, internships, jobs and entrepreneurship.

In attendance was alderman Lydia Mtyebele Ngoi, representatives from schools in the Brussels area, previous award recipients and friends and family of the nominees.

The club and its guests celebrated the evening with an elegant reception and buffet. Guests also had the opportunity to seek inspiration and empowerment from one another.