Zimbabwean female rights advocacy group Girl Child Network (GCN) believes that girls can fulfill their potential as young leaders when they are fully afforded their legal and human rights. Founder Betty Makoni tirelessly champions girls’ rights, and advocates the importance of female empowerment. Betty and the GCN’s goal is to dismantle culturally driven violence against girls, and help them to overcome gender-related discrimination. Betty dreams of a world where girls can take charge of their own destiny, receive support and encouragement from each other, and flourish with guidance. Betty and the GCN team provide assistance to child abuse sufferers, offer safety shelters for rape survivors, and conduct awareness sessions campaigning against cultural and religious practices that damage young girls. In 2009, Betty established the Girl Child Network Worldwide, which aims to implement the GCN’s unique girls’ empowerment model on a global scale.
