Valuing the Girl Child by Girl Child Network Worldwide blogger Dorothy Johnson-Laird
Valuing the Girl
Child
October, 2011
Contributor Dorothy
Johnson-Laird-Guest blogger
Each of us knows a little girl in our
lives. She is the one with face turned
down, with tear filled eyes, who looks dejected and alone. She might be a friend, a relative, a neighbor
or a community member. She may not be
able to look us in the eye. She may shrug her shoulders or remain mute when we
ask her questions. Sometimes we might
not know what to say to this little girl or even how to speak to her. Yet we can sense it, we can intuit that
something is not right.
The question is, do we continue to walk
by this little girl, do we act as if nothing is wrong or do we try to help her
in some way? Perhaps it would be easier
for us to walk away, to get on with our lives, to deny that there is a
problem. Yet by doing nothing, we are
denying this little girl her humanity, her joy.
We are also denying our humanity, by not responding, by not listening or
being a friend to her.
We may not know exactly what is wrong
with this child. We may not understand
what is disturbing or upsetting her. Yet
in her being is a life. Her life has
every right to be valued, to be encouraged, to be nurtured just as our own.
Every second that you read these words,
another young girl is raped, hurt, emotionally or verbally abused. Yet just because these crimes happen does not
mean that a child should be forgotten, ignored, stigmatized or denied her right
to humanity. It is in the split second
between her well-being and when a man violates her, that we need to be sure to
find her, not to deny her voice. We know
that this moment is pivotal in the child's life. How she is assisted after violence can mean
the difference between life and death, between developing good self-esteem and
poor self-esteem, between being able to be joyous and being Depressed, between
being healthy and becoming sick. Of course
it may not be possible to completely forget the terror of such incidents, yet
do we let her die internally or do we lift her off the ground, out of the mud,
away from her hurt?
It is in this moment after violence,
where a girl has been devastated that she needs to know most her worth as a
human being. It is in this moment where
she may feel most alone, most despondent, and where you as her friend, neighbor,
mother, father may not know what to do or how to respond.
It is at this time where Girl Child
Network Worldwide's life valuing and affirming role comes into play. You do not need to feel isolated as a young
mother talking to a hurt child. There
are a myriad ways in which GCN can offer assistance or advice. Reach out to GCN and you will be sure that
someone will reach back to you.
If you come to GCN, someone whether it
be a staff member or a volunteer will be ready and able to listen to your need,
to your fear, to your anxiety. You can
suggest to that little girl you know to join one of our Girls Empowerment
Clubs. You can come to Betty Makoni 's
radio show and talk or encourage others to come to speak from their heart. You can decide to become a Women Role Model
(WRAP program) and encourage others to take an active part in GCN.
If you know a young girl who is
suffering, by becoming involved with GCN, as a volunteer or a friend, you can
learn that this young girl can be lifted up, raised far above your shoulders,
that she can shine. Betty Makoni has
shown through her tireless work and courage that a raped girl is not a lifeless
human being, but someone who can find strength in numbers, when given the right
care, when her voice and sense of well-being is truly listened to and
encouraged. This little girl can then
value herself and by extension other people.
However, your child does not need to be hurt to come, to join a girls
club, it maybe just that you want to promote her sense of worth, just that you
want to ensure that she makes the right decisions on her path in life.
Next time you see that little girl on
the street, we hope you will stop and talk to her. Next time you see that young neighbor crying
in the stairwell, we trust you will reach out a hand and offer it to her. Next time you notice a girl bruised in odd
places in her body, we believe you can and will take action, you will speak to
her or encourage her to speak. In that
moment you can make the right choice, by lifting that girl up off the floor.
You will enable that little girl to find joy.
Comments
bettymakoni's iBlogs
-
My Face is Eating me Alive
Posted: 2013 June 14 | 24400 Views -
Betty Makoni urges Government of Zimbabwe to allocate budget to baby food and sanitary pads
Posted: 2011 November 22 | 5322 Views -
Betty Makoni urges Government of Zimbabwe to allocate budget to baby food and sanitary pads
Posted: 2011 November 22 | 5467 Views -
A Prostitute is a Mother And is a Woman-Poem by Betty Makoni
Posted: 2011 November 07 | 18058 Views -
Girl Child Network moving from helping thousands of girls in Zimbabwe to helping millions in the world
Posted: 2011 November 03 | 5523 Views -
Female rapists with 33 condoms versus Male rapists with 33 girl victims in Zimbabwe-Be the judge
Posted: 2011 October 31 | 26049 Views -
Valuing the Girl Child by Girl Child Network Worldwide blogger Dorothy Johnson-Laird
Posted: 2011 October 31 | 6723 Views -
Zimbabwean Gospel musicians based in UK in Leicester on 28 October 2011
Posted: 2011 October 27 | 5294 Views -
Menstruation for girls is a health issue like any other-Teach your daughter basics
Posted: 2011 October 25 | 7737 Views -
Open friendly letter to all friends and supporters of mine from Betty Makoni
Posted: 2011 October 24 | 5408 Views -
DOS AND DON’TS WHEN A CHILD DISCLOSES ABUSE
Posted: 2011 October 18 | 19805 Views -
Betty Makoni opens global hotline for women and girls to break silence on rights violations
Posted: 2011 October 16 | 6200 Views -
And she went cold..... A short story by Josiah Taundi
Posted: 2011 October 15 | 14318 Views -
Call to action-Taking Girl Child Network Worldwide to Top 12 in the world –Join us today
Posted: 2011 October 15 | 5660 Views -
Girl Child Networks thrive on good principles and values -Know them better
Posted: 2011 October 14 | 5885 Views -
Girl Child Network Zimbabwe intensifies work to empower girls –Know us better
Posted: 2011 October 14 | 41688 Views -
Mother All the way, All over, All the time-Poem by Betty Makoni
Posted: 2011 October 14 | 4801 Views -
Plea of a dying mother –Just a promise from friends -Poem by Betty Makoni
Posted: 2011 October 13 | 10001 Views