Just imagine lovely women walking for a cause!
Nobody will deny that this catastrophic situation caused by the deadly Covid-19 pandemic has hit us hard! Challenges for businesses and communities have suddenly become first priority, including organizations and civic/service clubs!
For the Zonta Club of Cebu 2, it has been a game-changer, compelling its members to innovate its service framework to its target communities.
According to Zonta Club of Cebu 2 president Petite Garcia, “This unfortunate experience has taught our members to think out of the box to extend its reach to more women and girls in need during these perilous times.”
How to be creative and innovative?
This year, the Zontians will launch its first virtual walk. Dubbed “Walk for Women,” this sports activity will celebrate women and promote dignity, equality and increased awareness for their rights. The walk is not just for health and wellness but more importantly, “to create safe spaces for everyone.”
Data in a recent report by the United Nations and Unicef provide cause for great cancern: “Seven hundred million women and girls alive today, were married before age 18, and one in five women has experienced physical or sexual violence in the last 12 months.”
It’s not just scary but shamefully shocking!
In reaction to these brutal statistics, Zonta Club of Cebu 2’s advocacy chairperson, lawyer Mae Elaine Bathan said: ”These statistics show a world where women and girls alike endure some kind of discrimination, inequality and violence. We at Zonta believe if we all work together, we can effect real and lasting positive change.”
The Virtual Walk is set for Nov. 25 to Dec. 12. “Participants can either run or walk at their own time, place and pace whether at a Cebu beach or Central Park in New York. Anyone can join from anywhere in the world. Even at your own home on a treadmill,” said organizing committee chairperson, Zontian lawyer Regal Oliva.
Below are frequently asked questions (FAQs) with their answers:
1. How does a Virtual Walk work?
- Participants can choose to walk anywhere: Road, beach, treadmill, wherever they may be at their own time, place and pace, as long as they walk the distance: 3K, 5K, 10K, 15K and 21K they registered for within one day.
- Walks may be staggered given it is done within the same day.
- Walks accumulated split into separate days are not acceptable.
- Participants may also opt to run the distance they registered in; they can opt to do it one time or staggered given it is also done the same day.
2. What do you mean by within one day?
- This means that you can only complete the distance you have registered to within one single day and not split it into several days.
3. When will registration start and how do I register?
- It starts on Sept. 25 onwards. To register, visit: zontacebu2walk.myruntime.com and click on the “Register Now” button.
4. What are the distances?
There will be five categories (3K, 5K, 10K, 15K and 21K) which stands for “Creating Safe Spaces for Everyone.” Each corresponds to a specific cause:
3K - Say No to Teenage Pregnancies
5K - End Child Marriages
10K - Break the Chain of Inequality and Abuse
15K - Stand Up Against Trafficking of Women and Children
21K - Say No to Violence Against Women
5. How much is the registration fee and what are the inclusions?
- Registration for all distances is P750. All paying participants are eligible to receive a Gratuity Bag containing a shirt, sun visor, tumbler and drawstring bag. Participants who will upload a proof of walk on the portal will receive a downloadable e-Certificate on top of the Gratuity Bag.
“Even through a raging pandemic, Zonta Club of Cebu 2 remains steadfast in its commitment to be more responsive and forge ahead to make headway toward a world where all are equal and women and girls are free from violence and abuse,” concluded Zontians Nonie Uy and Myrna Tan, chairperson and co-chairperson of the Ways and Means Committee, respectively.
Let’s all toast to that!