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Betty Makoni Blogging for women and girls empowerment-Know me better

The world has changed and we now live in a global village where with a click of a button everyone connects. My blog is not about women as sex objects or cheap talk on women as domestic servants or doing gossip here and there. My blog will show the other powerful side of a woman as a leader from family to global level. My blog will show how I  am working tirelessly with Girl Child Network Worldwide to mobilise the whole world  to help us stop war of terror on girls bodies especially in Africa where rape, forced marriages and female genital mutilation are clear wars declared on girls body. For indeed where will women come from if they get married at 10? Crazy. 

With technology, tweeting, facebooking, blogging its much faster than moving from office to office searching for leaders who could quickly intervene and stop the mess. Many campaigns I tweet on are very successful.

So serious business here .No child paly and cheap talk.It will be cash talk like my paternal grandmother used to say .

But before I start before here  is my biography to show what I have become since those days you know me as a child vendor in high density surbub of Chitungwiza. I always think about the rough journey and I think of so many girls struggling just for an education. 

ABOUT BETTY MAKONI      

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.

SELECTED AWARDS

In recognition of my work and contribution to the charity sector in Zimbabwe and globally, IK have received a total of 26 Global and Local awards for innovation, passion and commitment.

Ø  Newsweek Announced Betty Makoni is among 150 women who shake the world

Ø  Awarded African Achievers Award-UK   May 2011

Ø  Honorary Award  from Duke University of Medicine(Top Ten US College)-201

Ø  Decade Child Rights Hero by the World Children’s Prize alongside Graca Machel and Nelson Mandela  -Sweden -2010

Ø  Interaction(Network of USA Non Profits) Humanitarian Award 2010

Ø  The Women In Film and Television Awards-Los Angeles –USA

Ø  CNN Heroes award for Protecting the Powerless-2009 honoured by Sir Richard Benson and UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman

Ø  Giraffe Heroes Project Award 2009

Ø  Unsung Heroes of Compassion Award -2009

Ø  Amnesty International Ginetta Sagan Award for women and children’s rights, USA May 2008

Ø  Elected Ashoka fellow- -Global leading Social Entrepreneurs in recognition of creative and entrepreneurial leadership and commitment to make large scale changes in Society

Ø  Drivers of Change Award –Southern Africa Trust 2007

Ø  Women Empowerment Award 2007

Ø  Runner Up-Director of the Year Award for NGO sector in Zimbabwe-2008

Ø  Finalist One World Person of the Year 2007

Ø  One of the Ten Outstanding young people in the World by Junior Chamber International a worldwide leadership organization for young leaders and professionals

Ø  Voted First out of  Ten  Outstanding Young in Zimbabwe 2007 the Junior Chamber Zimbabwe

Ø  Awarded by the World Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child the Global Friends Award -2007

Ø  World Children’s Prize an equivalent to Nobel Prize for Children in 2007 in a Global Vote by 5,2 million children in 85 countries

Ø  Awarded the Zimbabwe Institute of Management National Contribution Award in 2007 immense contribution to the nation

Ø  The United Nations Red Ribbon Award -2006 for addressing gender inequalities that fuel the HIV/AIDS epidemic

Ø  Hafkin Prize Award Finalist, 2003

Ø  Awarded for Creativity in Rural Life by the Women’s World Summit Foundation, Switzerland 2003.

Ø  Prize Betty Makoni for Prevention of Child Abuse now renamed Prize for Prevention of Child Abuse is celebrated on 19 November annually

Ø  Small Technical Grant Award for the most innovative Grassroots Community Based Strategy

Ø  Certificate of Honor by Global Philanthropy Forum for being the most Remarkable person, USA  2002