As we commemorate the 16 days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence, 263Chat will profile 16 most influential women in Zimbabwe. The focus will be on their achievements and the contribution they have or are making to uplift society and the country at large.
Betty Makoni
Background
Hazviperi Betty Makoni who is affectionately known as Betty Makoni is a gender activist and a multi award winning human rights defender, born on 22 June in 1971. She founded the Girl Child Network (GCN) with the sole aim of advancing the plight of girls and women. She is married to Irvine Nyamapfene and they have three sons.
Makoni grew up in Chitungwiza and she witnessed the death of her mother who was a victim of domestic violence. When she was 6, she was raped together with ten other girls by a business who was residing in their neighborhood.
It was reported that, the businessman was instructed by his traditional healer that the more he sleeps with virgins the more he will amass wealth. Of all the 11 girls who were raped, Makoni managed to survive from the trauma.
Makoni’s mother died when she was 9 and was thus faced with the daunting task of taking care of her siblings. The fact that she was also a victim of rape fueled her determination to assist girls. This in turn resulted in the formation of the GCN.
Education
Makoni was enrolled at Zengeza Primary and later Farai and Chishawasha Mission for her primary education. She did her secondary education at Chishawasha Mission. At the mission, she was offered a work for your school fees scholarship in Form Two because she was unable to raise money for her fees on time. She completed her studies and was one of the best pupils. She was then enrolled at Nagle House in Marondera where she did her Advanced Level studies. Makoni also worked for her school fees.
In 1992, she was at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts General Degree in 1994.She pursued her studies and was enrolled for a Special Honors Degree in Theatre Arts at the UZ and she graduated in 1995. Makoni also holds several certificates and diplomas.
Philanthropic Work
Betty Makoni is a gender activist who in 1999 founded the Girl Child Network, an organisation fighting the rights of victims of sexual abuse; the organization has rescued more than 35,000 girls and provided mentoring to at least 60,000 girls around Zimbabwe.
When she was at Zengeza 1 High School, Makoni formed the first organisation and or club in the country with the aim of advancing the rights of girls as well as unearthing sex predators. Ten of Makoni’s pupils narrated their ordeal of sexual abuse to her. Hence Makoni felt obliged to protect the girl child. By the end of the year, they were about 100 clubs under the network in the country.
In 2000, Makoni resigned from her teaching post to focus more on the GCN. By the end of 2000, they were about 700 clubs under the GCN in the country. Regional countries also began to emulate Makoni and also establishing their own networks drawing from Makoni’s GCN.
In 2007, branches of the GCN were set up in Uganda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, the United States of America (USA) and in the United Kingdom (UK). Makoni was thus the Chief Executive Officer of Girl Child Network Worldwide.
Because of her personal experience of being abused she always has had girls and women at heart.
She has many accolades to her name including;
- Officially Conferred with Muzvare-Her Royal Highness and given a sacred royal shrine- Chitsotso to preside over and protect all girls in Zimbabwe and beyond by Traditional Leadership of Makoni (2001)
- Certificate of Honor by Global Philanthropy Forum for being the most Remarkable person, USA (2002)
- Small Technical Grant Award for the most innovative Grass roots Community Based Strategy (2002)
- Awarded for Creativity in Rural Life by the Women’s World Summit Foundation, Switzerland (2003). Prize Betty Makoni for Prevention of Child Abuse now Renamed Prize for Prevention of Child Abuse is celebrated on 19 November annually
- Hafkin Prize Award Finalist (2003)
- The United Nations Red Ribbon Award (2006) for addressing gender inequalities that fuel the HIV/AIDS epidemic
- Awarded the Zimbabwe Institute of Management National Contribution Award in 2007 immense contribution to the nation
- Awarded by the World Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child the Global Friends Award (2007) 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
- Voted First out of Ten Outstanding Young in Zimbabwe (2007) the Junior Chamber Zimbabwe
- Finalist One World Person of the Year (2007)
- Women Empowerment Award (2007)
- Drivers of Change Award — Southern Africa Trust (2007)
- Elected Ashoka fellow-—Global leading Social Entrepreneurs in recognition of creative and Entrepreneurial leadership and commitment to make large scale changes in Society (2007)
- Amnesty International Ginetta Sagan Award for women and children’s rights, USA (2008)
- Runner Up-Director of the Year Award for NGO sector in Zimbabwe (2008)
- Honorary award for protecting girls—Defence for children International Canada (2008)
- CNN Heroes award for protecting the Powerless (2009) honoured by Sir Richard Benson and UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman
- Giraffe Heroes Project Award (2009)
- Unsung Heroes of Compassion Award (2009)
- Decade Child Rights Hero by the World Children’s Prize alongside Graca Machel and Nelson Mandela—Sweden (2010)
- Interaction (Network of USA Non Profits) Humanitarian Award (2010)
- The Women in Film and Television Awards USA (2010)
- Awarded African Achievers Award – UK (2011)
- Honorary Award from Duke University of Medicine (Top Ten US College) (2011)
- Crowned Mother and Leader of African Princesses by Her Royal Highness Princess Deun Adedoyin Solarin (2012)
- Ambassador of Peace Award-Women Peace Federation (2012)
- Life Achievement Award-Africa Community in Scotland (2012)
- Zimbabwe International Performers Alliance Global impact award (2012)
- Fest Africa global Humanitarian award (2012)
- Winner African Goddess Award, USA (2012)
- Women for Africa Humanitarian award – UK (2012)
- Profile Courage Award by National Black Association of UK (2013)
- BEFFTA Humanitarian Award – UK (2013)
- Friends of Africa Hall of Fame- Canada (2013)
- Selected Amongst Top 100 Diaspora Change Makers in UK (2014)
- Women 4 Africa Recognition Award (2014)
- DIVA of Colour-Woman of Honour (2014)
- Women 4 Africa Lifetime Achievement Award (2017)
