As part of its Women's Empowerment Program, the Zonta Club of Central Tuguegarao, Philippines, partnered with the Tuguegarao City-Cagayan Dental Chapter on 17 March to reach out to the local indigenous community.
The club lectured at least 200 individuals on gender-based violence and women's rights. They also distributed groceries and three kilos of rice to 51 families and supplied goody bags and dental kits to 41 children.
The dental chapter provided reproductive and oral health lectures, gave oral fluoride treatment to the children and informed their parents on how to care for their children's teeth.
"Our goal is to help women of the community become better mothers and individuals so that they cannot only stand up for themselves but also help create a world where their children do not suffer from any kind of abuse and injustice," said Club President Martin Chan.
The club's project, also known as the Alay Agay Project, was headed by Zontian Dr. Raquel Sumabat-Arendo from the service committee. It is a flagship project aimed at empowering women and preventing teenage pregnancies in indigenous communities.
The club plans to visit another indigenous community in June to continue its advocacy for assisting women and girls in the province with its partners and government agencies.