September, 2009:

This is how 11-year-old Annie Chatizemba opened the official launch of Girl Child Network Worldwide on 4 September 2009, Essex County Hotel, United Kingdom. For girls in UK, it was the first time they had ever stood in front of hundreds of adults, both male and female, to denounce widespread abuse of girls all over the world. Many girls had heard about the suffering of other girls, especially in Africa, but they had never thought that one day they would be leaders of girls empowerment like Annie.

June 3rd, 2009:

In April 2009 Girl Child Network Founder and Director Betty Makoni (3rd row, 2nd from right) was honored by the Dalai Lama along with 48 other Unsung Heroes of Compassion in San Francisco, California.

In March 2009, Girl Child Network began celebrating its 10th anniversary. In Zimbabwe, thousands of girls marched long distances to the center of Chitungwiza where GCN school clubs took turns performing, reading poetry and singing. Some girls staged a play on sexual abuse and trafficking, which left the crowd clamoring for more. Despite pouring rain, concurrent events took place in Rusape where boys joined the singing and feasts that followed.

Betty Makoni, Executive Director, Girl Child Network, celebrates GCN's 10th anniversary with Defence for Children in Toronto in March.

In Canada, DEFENCE FOR CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL hosted a 10th anniversary event for Betty Makoni and one of GCN’s very first Zimbabwean members, Florence Mudzongo. DCI President Agnes Samler, other board members, activist Vivian Green, and renowned advocate for women’s rights, attorney Nneka McGregor, enjoyed the celebration.