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Young Women in Public Affairs Award (YWPA)

Aims of the award

At Zonta we strive to acknowledge and celebrate the successes of young women and their contribution to their community and public affairs.

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Zonta International established the Young Women in Public Affairs Award (YWPA) to publicly acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of young women who excel in public affairs and through service to their community.

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Zonta Club of Wellington has offered this award to the Wellington region’s young women in their final year of college since 2000. 

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The award aims to:

  • build confidence 

  • provide candidates experience with application and interview processes

  • formally acknowledge young women’s contribution to public service which can be shared with future networks, education providers and employers.

 

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Prize

The winner receives a $1,000 prize and is invited to a celebratory award ceremony jointly hosted by the Zonta Clubs of Wellington and Mana who run the YWPA for the wider Wellington region.

 

Find out about our previous winners — YWPA Awards Ceremony 2024.

 

All club winners have their application submitted to District 16 — a winner is then selected to be put forward as the District 16 awardee to be considered for the international award. 

Eligibility and award criteria

Prize
Award Criteria

Eligibility

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Who can apply
 

This award is eligible to women:

  • aged between 16 and 19 (on the first of April each year)

  • studying at a secondary school in the greater Wellington district.

 

Applicants from geographic areas within a Zonta district where no clubs are located may apply via a Zonta e-club or directly to District 16 to be eligible for the international awards.  

 

Who cannot apply
 

  • Previous district and international YWPA recipients.

  • Club members, individuals with direct membership with Zonta International,  employees of Zonta International, Zonta Foundation for Women, their family members (ancestors, descendants, adoptees, siblings, nieces or cousins, and those of their spouse or cohabiting partner).

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Criteria

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Applicants must demonstrate: 

  • active commitment to volunteering 

  • experience with leadership within their school, workplace, or community

  • awareness of international issues that affect women

  • understanding of the status of women within Aotearoa New Zealand

  • how they support Zonta International's mission of empowering women worldwide through service and advocacy.

Application process and timeline

Timeline

 

  • Applications open — early September 2024

  • Applications close  TBA

  • Shortlisted applicants contacted TBA

  • Meet the candidates TBA

  • Award recipients announced TBA

  • Award ceremony TBA

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Contact

For questions or additional information email:

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