Bulgarian Leads Largest Women Organization in World

Zonta International is the largest non-profit women organization in the world, having a consultative vote in the UN. Photo by Zonta International

Bulgarian Maria Stefanova has been elected International Director of the largest women NGO in the world, Zonta International.

The election was held earlier in July at the 61st congress of the organization in Toronto, Canada.

This is the first time ever in the 93 years of Zonta's history when someone from Eastern Europe wins the post. Stefanova collected 873 votes from a total of 1 278 international delegates.

Maria Stefanova is a Bulgarian journalist and media expert. She is also the former Chair of the Council for Electronic Media, CEM.

Zonta International is the largest non-profit women organization in the world, having a consultative vote in the UN.

Zonta International was founded in 1919. It is a global organization of executives and professionals working together to advance the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy. It has 30 000 members belonging to more than 1 200 Zonta Clubs in 63 countries and geographic areas, including Bulgaria. The members volunteer their time, talents and support to local and international service projects, as well as scholarship programs.

In the last 2 years the NGO has realized projects worth USD 5 M.