Muzvare Betty Makoni

Muzvare Betty Makoni
CNN Hero and Decade Child Rights Hero

Thursday 15 September 2011

The profile of Betty Makoni

Betty Makoni is a human rights activist and Founder and Director of Girl Child Network Zimbabwe (GCN) and Chief Executive Officer of Girl Child Network World Wide, an organization that champions the rights of the girl child in Zimbabwe and the world over. She is a holder of two Bachelor of Arts Honors Degrees from the University of Zimbabwe. Since 1999, Makoni has mobilized financial resources to build four Girls Empowerment Villages; these employ a unique model that provides shelter, healing, and a future to sexually abused girls.

A survivor of rape at age six as well as orphaned at age nine, Betty fought to get an education, and continues to fight for girls in similar circumstances all around the world. She has consistently used her voice to remind policy makers and leaders to change policies, attitudes, and laws that are detrimental to the growth and development of the girl child.
Betty is a passionate and prolific speaker with worldwide acclaim, and she is believed to be one of the few women in the world to present at all levels of society, reaching out to millions. A mentor, coach, and trainer on gender issues, girls rights, girls empowerment, and leadership, Betty is an inspiration to young women leaders she has produced through her program. Thousands of empowered girls who are now in different professions and leadership positions all over the world are a direct product of Betty’s leadership, mentoring, and coaching.
Recently Makoni was appointed to be trustee of a global network of Christians which is based in the United Kingdom and fighting against domestic violence. Betty has been featured in the first chapter of the best selling book, Women Who Light the Dark, by Paola Gianturco, which was launched in New York in September 2007. Being the former beneficiary of a scholarship for disadvantaged girls, Makoni now has over 5000 girls benefiting from scholarships. On a daily basis, GCN continues to rescue sexually abused girls and return them to school and supportive family members.
For the great contribution she has made in Zimbabwe to the development of future women, Makoni has received eighteen global and national awards; the most recent is the CNN 2009 Hero award for protection of the powerless. She has received the coveted United Nations Red Ribbon award, Ginetta Sagan – Amnesty International award, Zimbabwe national contribution award, and two global children’s awards; and she has been chosen as one of the ten outstanding young people in the world.
Betty is married to Engineer Irvine Nyamapfene and the couple has 3 boys.

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