WUNRN
ZIMBABWE
Mission of Girl Child Network GCN -
Zimbabwe
Girl Child Network's Mission is to
resocialise girls (0-18 years old) so that they articulate their individual and
collective rights and strategically position themselves to take charge of their
own empowerment.
GCN mobilizes
whole communities to eradicate patriarchal structures that dominate the home,
school, and community so as to support the development of an enabling
environment and to promote and protect the rights of the girl child
GCN ensures
girls at risk and most vulnerable to abuse are rescued and empowered to speak
out and, through provision of safe shelter and strong referral to legal and
medical aid, stand up to defend their rights
Girl Child
Network of Zimbabwesupports and promotes girls to be in school and advocates
for a violence free school environment so that girls get maximum benefits from
education.
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Attached is: Support for Rape Survivors by Kamurai Mudzingwa
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Poem by Hazviperi
Betty Makoni, Founder& Director of
Girl Child Network, Zimbabwe
POEM DEDICATED TO THE
ZIMBABWE ORPHAN GIRL I SAW AT ZIKO SHOPPING CENTRE SELLING SOME
Yes
indeed I do recall
The very last time I saw her
She
was in tattered clothes
She
had her rough feet in cold sand
Her
eyes were tearful
So
was everything round her
Tears
of sorrow, having lost both father and mother.
She
looked at me and I looked at her
She
stared at me, I stared at her
We
both almost dropped tears
The
girl was a vendor
A
vendor on the most risky places
Braai
place by the pub
She
sold some salads
In
the middle of the night
Risky,
very risky, indeed very very risky
I
looked at all those drunk men
She
is easy prey, I thought
How
on earth would she resist sexual slavery
I
cursed mother earth for being cruel
An
innocent orphaned girl turned vendor
Grandma
and Aunt said unless she fends
For
her siblings, two brothers and sisters
Then
she should not come home.
I
asked everything, she told me everything
She
asked me everything, I told her everything
I
looked at her, she looked at me
I
stared at her, she stared at me
Poor,
disadvantaged, vulnerable girl
No
shelter from rain, no warmth from cold
I
whispered to myself, future woman of tomorrow
I
will follow up with her so that she too
Walks
in the fullness of her potential.
I
vividly recall the last time I saw her
She
was tearful, I became tearful
I
would see her again, I bade farewell
I
will see her again, I am greatly inspired by her
The last time I saw her marks the beginning of all the times I will ever see her.
By Hazviperi Betty Makoni, Founder & Director of Girl Child Network, Zimbabwe