• UNIFEM Australia -  The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to righting the balance. Since 1976, UNIFEM has worked to help improve the living standards of women in developing countries and to address their concerns.
• The Zonta CBD Club of Melbourne is also proud to be supporting a student through a Smith Family Learning For Life Scholarship .

The first provides Zonta Breast Care Cushions to women having breast surgery. The cushions provide comfort in the post-operative phase. Cushions are supplied to most hospitals in each Area. Distribution in hospitals is by Breast Care Nurses. Throughout the year Zonta Clubs in this District and others in Australia hold sewing bees to make these sought-after cushions.

The feedback received from recipients has been positive, with one woman noting that receiving the cushion was a turning point for her in helping to change her outlook and feel more positive.

The second project is the production of Birthing Kits. UNICEF and the Safe Motherhood Organisation estimated in 1996 that 585,000 women died annually in childbirth. Developing countries accounted for 99% of these deaths. For every woman who dies in childbirth, probably 30 incur injuries and infections - many of which are often painful, disabling, embarrassing and lifelong.

ZONTA BIRTHING KITS provide for a clean birth that decreases the risk of death from infection and bleeding. 60 million women give birth each year with the assistance of a Traditional Birth Attendant or no assistance at all.

(Click here for more information on these projects.)