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A champion of children - come what might
Yolandi Groenewald, Mail & Guardian (SA)
October 25, 2007

http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=323059&area=/supfuture1007_home/supfuture1007_content/

Special Commendation - Drivers of Change - Civil Society: Betty Makoni

Abused girls in Zimbabwe have a new heroine. She might not wear a cape or have a signature martial arts move, but this woman has saved numerous girls from terrible circumstances and created a better life for them. Children's rights activist Betty Makoni, the founding director of the Girl Child Network Trust, is Zimbabwe's own Superwoman.

Her work has earned her a special commendation in the Drivers of Change category. Makoni's organisation rehabilitates survivors of girl-child sexual abuse and has been praised all over the world for saving numerous girls from forced marriages, prostitution and neglect.

Her activism in the country has influenced the domestic violence law in the Constitution of the Zimbabwean government, the judges noted. She started in 1998 and set out to be a voice for the voiceless: the girls she protects.

Nine years ago Makoni started a girls' club with nine girls. The club met regularly to share stories, ideas and problems and to find solace and solutions as a group. Today there are 500 girls' clubs in 49 of Zimbabwe's 58 districts, as well as the Girl Child Network, which helps 30 000 girls, raises community awareness and lobbies government.

"Our goal is to dismantle the link between culture and violence against the girls and enable them to take charge of their own destiny," says Makoni.

Makoni is a survivor of sexual abuse, which happened to her at the age of six. She grew up intent on breaking the silence and fighting discrimination and oppression of girls, says one of her supporters, Zimbabwean child activist Ropafadzo Mapimhidze.

Makoni admits her history played a big part in getting the network up and running. "I was raped at six by a certain man who unabashedly raped minor girls. I was orphaned at nine after the death of my mother from domestic violence. At the age of eight I pushed her to report the violence perpetrated by my father, but she put a finger to my mouth and said 'shush', meaning 'quiet, you don't say that in public.'"

Makoni vowed never to stay silent again.

Mapimhidze said that before Makoni started her work, most of the neglect and sexual abuse cases in Zimbabwe were swept under the carpet, "especially when they involved high-profile people".

Through the network Makoni built three safe villages (also called empowerment villages) for highly vulnerable girls. More than 20 000 girls have been rescued from abuse, rehabilitated and counselled. Many of Makoni's girls come from some of the poorest parts of Zimbabwe.

When children are rescued, Makoni's organisation places them in schools to ensure they get an education. The network buys uniforms, pays school fees and feeds the girls to help them get back on their feet. Makoni is especially proud of those girls who have earned bursaries to study abroad.

"All you need to do is visit these shelters and see the wonderful work that is being done," says Mapimhidze. "There is no doubt that Makoni is Zimbabwe's pride."

But Makoni's work is not easy. Mapimhidze says she has a lot of enemies, some extremely powerful. Many have threatened the organisation but Makoni and her girls have flourished and not been deterred by the threats. Makoni tells how masked men with axes have tried to attack her house and the shelter.

Despite the threats, Makoni has persisted -- and it has paid off. She is the recipient of several illustrious international awards, including the World's Children's Prize for the Rights of Children, a prize awarded by children.

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