Girl Child Network's Betty needs votes for CNN Heroes

Viomak and Betty

An inspirational community worker who is dedicated to helping young victims of sexual abuse has been shortlisted for a hero of the year award.

Betty Makoni, right, with protest singer Viomak, has been shortlisted for a US TV award, and has won £15,000, after being nominated by fellow workers 

Betty Makoni is in the top ten CNN Heroes for her work to help young girls who are victims of sexual abuse, both in Zimbabwe and through the Dove Project, in Westcliffe.

The American TV news channel hosts a worldwide search, taking in 100 countries, for a hero who carries out extraordinary work and Betty was one of 9,000 nominations.

She was nominated by a fellow worker for her work setting up the Girl Child Network and providing a haven for young victims of sexual abuse.

The network has its base in West Road, where Betty works, but she continues to divide her time between there and Zimbabwe where there are 700 girls’ clubs and three villages for girls to escape to.  An estimated 300,000 girls have received help.

Betty, 38, said about the award: “I’m so excited. It was a big surprise. It’s so nice to be recognised. I feel hopeful and my morale has been boosted.

“Although much of the abuse we deal with happens in Africa, it is for everyone to do something about. That’s why I founded Girl Child Network and we’re doing some great work with the Dove Project domestic violence charity.”

Betty, herself a victim of rape when she was a child, is a Zimbabwean native living in exile in England since January.

She has fought for nearly a decade to protect young girls as well as creating a culture of empowerment and education.

Many young girls in Zimbabwe are victims of a widely-held belief that if a man with HIV or Aids rapes a virgin he will be cured of the disease. But speaking out came with a high personal cost and she was forced to flee her country and live in Botswana, before coming to England.

Betty has already won £15,000 by making it to the top ten, and attended a celebration event in London on Thursday.

If she wins the public vote for CNN Hero of the Year title, she will receive £60,000 for the charity at a star-studded gala in Hollywood, later this month.

Vote for Betty at the CNN Heroes site at www.CNN.com/Heroes Voting continues until this Wednesday.