1. Young Women in Public Affairs Award - YWPA Florence Fischer-Herber Chairman YWPA Committee

2. The Young Women in Public Affairs Award YWPA
Was established in 1990
Has had 661 recipients from 53 countries since then and
Is a program on Club, District/Region and International levels of ZI
The awards are paid from donations to Zonta International Foundation (ZIF): District/Region recipients: US$ 1,000; 10 international recipients: additionally US$ 4,000 each

3. The Goal of the YWPA Award is:
To encourage more young women to participate in public affairs by
recognizing a commitment to the volunteer sector
evidence of volunteer leadership achievements
and a dedication to the advancement of the status of women

4. Who is eligible?
Young women aged 16 – 19 at the time the application is submitted to the District
please note: the applicant must be at least 16 years old on 1st April in the year of application and may not be older than 19 on 1st April!!!
living or studying in a Zonta District/Region or a citizen of a Zonta country
please note the changes: pre-university, pre-college is no longer precondition; of prime importance is the age, the candidate can go to school, study or go to work (paid or unpaid)

5. and who demonstrate evidence of:
active commitment to volunteerism
experience in local or student government or workplace (paid or unpaid) leadership
volunteer leadership achievements
knowledge of ZI and its programs
support in ZI‘s mission of empowering women worldwide through service and advocacy
Please note: Z and Golden Z members are also eligible to apply

6. But not eligible are: classified members and employees of ZI and ZIF
and their family members

7. How to get started?
Stimulate participation in all Areas and ideally from all Countries
YWPA representative in every Area and ideally in every Club
YWPA District Jury with a member from each Area
YWPA workshops on Club, Area and District level
Develop regional strategies to stimulate participation, improve visibility and facilitate PR –
i.e. contact headmasters, teachers, club
presidents…

8. What does the Governor/Region Representative have to do?
She appoints a District YWPA Committee
The members should/can also be the District/Region Evaluation Committee
Non-Zontians may also be invited to the Evaluation Committee.
The Evaluation Committee selects one District/Region recipient
The Committee Chairman and/or the Governor/Region Representative check the completeness of the application
The Governor/Region Rep. fills the „Cover Sheet for District/Region“ and signs it

9. She submits the complete application with the “Cover Sheet for District/Region” to ZI Headquarters
Please mind the deadline: 1st May of each year
The application is accepted by fax or mail
please note: submission by is preferred
but: as a computer file (e.g. pdf) with all attachments and all signatures!! 
The Executive Committee of ZI Board must approve the District/Region recipient
The Executive Committee will do that in July
Before this date the District/Region cannot publish the name of the recipient!!

10. Application Form:
The application forms are available on ZI website – my Zonta – tools – award, scholarship and fellowship tools – young women in public affairs award
The applicant has to fill the form with details to her person and her personal goals
And she has to answer question 1 – 4. For each question there is a given limit of words

11. As Governor/Region Representative please check:
Application Cover Sheet for Clubs is filled out and signed by the club president
Verification of current enrollment by school/institute official (if applicable), OR letter from employer stating employment (if applicable)
Completed application materials, typed and in English
Two confidential recommendations with signature
Applicant‘s signature
Please watch the given limit of words!!

12. How to Evaluate?
What are the 3 most important characteristics of excellence in regard of the 4 items of the application
Student and/or Employee Activities
Community Service Activities – Experience in local/ government, international or other projects
International Awareness
Status of Women in your Country and Worldwide

13. Club Award
Clubs are encouraged to organize an Award Ceremony, preferably
in one of the schools/institutes, workplaces, organizations or local government offices, with teachers, co-students, employers, parents, government officials and members of the media, to publicize the YWPA Award Program.
at a special club meeting – could be combined with other award presentations
at a school assembly – provides publicity for Zonta and YWPA in the winner’s school community

14. Clubs can reward their winners
in any way they wish e.g.
Certificate (template available on ZI website)
Financial reward
Book voucher, etc.
- or any combination of these
Keeping in touch with the recipient, networking with her, inviting her to Zonta events
By any other form of recognition…

15. YWPA District/Region Award
ZIF will issue a check to recipients who live in the USA and a wire transfer to recipients who live outside the USA; amount: US $ 1,000
payable to the District/Region recipient
check or copy of the wire transfer will be mailed with an award certificate to the Governor/Region Representative at the end of July

16. The District/Region is encouraged to add to the value of the award –
perhaps
by matching the money
by sponsoring a 2nd and 3rd award
by seeking a grant
by arranging a meeting for the recipient with high-level government or community leaders
by keeping in touch with the recipient, networking with her, inviting her to Zonta events
by – any other form of recognition……

17. Presentation of the District/Region Award in a District/Region Award Ceremony
The best chance is at the District/Region Conference – but not before the end of July.
Take the chance for a press conference with the recipient to attract publicity for the award and for the goals of Zonta International

18. 10 YWPA International Awards
From the approved District/Region recipients
ZI YWPA Committee selects and recommends 10 international
recipients
For each international recipient
ZIF will issue a check or a wire transfer, amount:
US $ 4,000; totalling with the District/Region award:
US $ 5,000
payable to the recipient
check or copy of wire transfer receipt will be mailed with an award certificate to Governor/Region Representative towards end of July

19. Promote the Award!
Make sure that Zontians understand that Awards and Scholarships are just as important as every other Zonta Service
Make sure that Zontians understand the importance of giving recognition to outstanding young women, giving them a chance to realize their dream and leadership capabilities
Make sure that Zontians understand how these young women can be magnificent Ambassadors for Zonta and how this leads to membership conversions

20. What else should be done do to promote the Award?
Our Goal is that
every District submits a nomination for the YWPA in each year of a Biennium
we increase the number of clubs participating in the awards
we keep in touch with the recipients and favour networking
Because it is a efficient and easy way
to get public recognition as a local Zonta Club
to sharpen the profile of the local Zonta Club
to spread our international goal of empowering women
to recruit former YWPA recipients as new Zonta members
For that purpose encourage all clubs to keep in touch with their YWPA recipients, accompany their further careers and support them in their leadership
You should also encourage all the clubs to take part in the YWPA Award!

21. Timetable - Deadlines
Application is posted on the ZI website in August
Application received by Zonta Clubs
Each club sets the individual deadline by Club
The club recipient is selected
the application is received by Governor/Region Rep.
by 1st April
The District recipient is selected and the Governor/
Region Rep. sends the application to ZI Headquarters
by 1st May
Announcement of District/Region and International
Recipients by International President in July

22. Further Information and Forms - www.zonta.org
Please have a look at the ZI Homepage – my zonta – tools – award, scholarship and fellowship tools – young women in public affairs award
There you will get among others:
YWPA Application
YWPA Poster – with translation into 5 languages
YWPA Certificate – with translation into 5 languages
YWPA Guidelines for Clubs and Districts
YWPA Evaluation Committee Scoring Sheet
YWPA Application Cover Sheets for Clubs and Governors
YWPA Samples: News Releases and Announcing Recipients

23. How to continue?

24. And now –
Let‘s promote our YWPA Award
with Zonta Power
for the Young Women in the world!!