GCNova: Girl Child Network Worldwide at Villanova: rape as weapon of war in the Congo.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

rape as weapon of war in the Congo.

We've blogged about the horrific plight of women in the Congo before. Glad to see that the newswires are continuing to draw attention to the use of rape as a weapon of war in this country. Read the latest here.

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Inspired by the heroic story of Betty Makoni, GCNova is a collaborative student organization founded by Jessica Lu (’11) and formed to support the proper treatment of women in our schools, communities, nations, and the world. On October 1, 2009, GCNova officially launched as an organization of the Center for Peace and Justice Education at Villanova University.

In Zimbabwe, of the southern region of Africa, concerns of poverty, political violence, homelessness, starvation, public health, and unemployment overwhelm public consciousness. However, other important issues of individual rights and protections are often overlooked. One such issue is the tragic exploitation of primarily young women. In Zimbabwe, traditional healers have long perpetuated the belief that a man can cure his own HIV/AIDS infection by raping a virgin. This belief has become so deeply entrenched in the psyche of Zimbabwe that even infants have been mercilessly sexually assaulted.

Makoni, a Zimbabwe native and child rape survivor, became so concerned with the staggering incidence of HIV/AIDS, rape, and promulgation of the so-called “virgin myth” in her country (and others throughout Africa) that she decided to give girls a space where they can talk, find support, and uncover solutions. And so, in 1999, Girl Child Network (GCN) was born. After just one year, there were 100 GCN clubs throughout Zimbabwe. Eventually, Makoni founded the group’s first empowerment village, a haven for female victims of abuse, where girls could receive medical treatment, an education, counseling, and the encouragement to become their own healers—transforming victims to leaders. Now, GCN has grown to include over 700 girls’ clubs and three empowerment villages across Zimbabwe. Approximately 300,000 girls have received help from Makoni’s organization.

Scorned for her efforts, Makoni was forced to leave Zimbabwe and relocated with her family to the UK. In 2009, she teamed up with Priscilla Nyathi to form the Girl Child Network Worldwide (GCNW). In partnership with the DOVE project, a domestic violence awareness group based in Essex, England, the Girl Child Network Worldwide (and Girl Child Network Trust Fund UK) hopes to spread the message of Zimbabwe's GCN to the international stage. The worldwide organization officially launched on September 4, 2009 in the UK.

GCNova hopes to bring GCNW's efforts to the Villanova community, making a stand for women, children, and victims of sexual violence all over the globe.

GCNova: Girl Child Network Worldwide at Villanova

Saturday, October 17, 2009

rape as weapon of war in the Congo.

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