Betty Makoni was one of CNN’s 2009 Top Ten Heroes for her work in
defending
and empowering girl rape victims in her native Zimbabwe. She
is the founder
and director of the Girl Child Network Worldwide that
has helped thousands
of girls in several African countries to get
protection, support, and
education. She and some of the girls she has
helped are featured in a film
titled Tapestries of Hope, which will be
shown at IUP (see below).
Ms. Makoni will be at IUP on Friday, September 23, 2011. There are
three
opportunities to meet her, hear her speak, and donate to the
Girl Child
Network Worldwide. Attendance vouchers will be available
at each of these
activities.
1:25-2:15 p.m. in Room 205 of McElhaney Hall. There she
will address
the economic impact of the HIV/AIDS crisis, as well as the
economic
implications of the sexual abuse and lack of education of girls in
African countries.
2:30-3:20 p.m. in Room 165 of Keith Hall. Ms.
Makoni will describe
her experiences as a survivor of rape and as a teacher
in Zimbabwe,
and will explain how her organization works with girls in
various in
African countries and partners with organization in the United
States
and the United Kingdom.
4:45-6:45 p.m. at a dinner held for
her on campus. If you would like
to attend the dinner, please email mmryan@iup.edu by 10 p.m. on
Sunday, Sept.
18: Write in the subject line “Betty Makoni Dinner.”
Due to limited space,
we can only accept the first 25 persons to
respond to this invitation. You
will receive a return email about
your response to the invitation and
informing you of the location.
The film Tapestries of Hope, featuring
Ms. Makoni, will be shown on
Wednesday, September 28 at 7:30 p.m. in Room
247 of Johnson Hall. The
film is 77 minutes long. Attendance vouchers will
be available.
These four events are co-sponsored by the IUP Pan-African
Studies and
Women’s Studies programs, the College of Humanities and Social
Sciences, the IUP Libraries, and various IUP student organizations.
To learn more about Ms. Makone’s organization and her work, see these
websites:
www.girlchildnetworkworldwide.org
www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes/archive09/betty.makoni.html
http://www.tapestriesofhope.com/movieandclips.html
You may direct questions to Dr. Marveta Ryan-Sams, coordinator of
Pan-African Studies (mmryan@iup.edu).