Betty Makoni is a multi-global award winner, renowned poet, speaker, gender activist, and advocate for girls and women worldwide. She is one of the first African women to be honoured by the United Nations, Women World Summit, Ashoka, Afrikan Goddess Award, Amnesty International and many high profile international organisations for Excellency, Innovation and Creativity in girls empowerment.  CNN, the Dalai Lama and World’s Children`s Prize singled her out as a hero. Newsweek named Betty Makoni amongst 150 women who shake the world. She is the first woman to serve as Global Ambassador for UN 19 days of Activism   for prevention of Child Abuse by Women World Summit an organisation with UN consultative status.

Betty picture

The work

I have played a leadership role in creating a dynamic organisation with progressive and innovative programs which have made the greatest impact in Zimbabwe and world over in terms of effective implementation and monitoring and evaluation of resulting in strong grassroots partners.
read about my work

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Betty Makoni (41) (BA Gen, Hons) is a multiglobal award winner with 30 global awards for her lifetime of voluntary service, commitment and passion for girls empowerment. She is the most awarded woman world over for commitment to empowering marginalised girls and transforming their lives from perceived victims into leaders. She is the first Zimbabwean and in most cases African woman to receive prestigious awards from CNN, Ginetta Segan Award, Ashoka, Zimbabwe Institute of Management, Afrikan Goddess Award, World Children`s Prize along President Nelson Mandela and Graca Machel, Women and Film in USA and many other big international organisations. Newsweek named Betty Makoni as one of the women who shake the world alongside US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. view my awards Here is a summary  update  on the  awards and links to Awards ceremonies:
  • Peace Ambassador Award from Women Federation for Peace-2012
  • Scotland High Achievers Award for black and ethnic minorities-November 2012
  • Zimbabwe International Performers Alliance Global impact award- 2012
  • Fest Africa global Humanitarian award- Washington DC 2012
  • Winner African Goddess Award in Washington DC —2012
  • Women for Africa Humanitarian award -2012-UK
  • Newsweek Named Betty Makoni as among 150 women who shake the world-2011
  • Awarded African Achievers Award-UK May 2011
  • Honorary Award from Duke University of Medicine(Top Ten US College)-2011
  • Decade Child Rights Hero by the World Children’s Prize alongside Graca Machel and Nelson Mandela—Sweden—2010
  • Interaction(Network of USA Non Profits) Humanitarian  Award 2010
  • The Women In Film and Television Awards-Los Angeles—USA
  • CNN Heroes award for Protecting the Powerless-2009 honoured by Sir Richard Benson and UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman. Interviewed by Anderson Cooper.
  • Giraffe Heroes Project Award 2009
  • Unsung Heroes of Compassion Award from the Dalai Lama—2009
  • Honorary award for protecting girls—Defence for  children International Canada 2008
  • Amnesty International Ginetta Sagan Award for women and children’s rights, USA May 2008
  • Elected Ashoka fellow-—Global leading Social Entrepreneurs in recognition of creative and Entrepreneurial leadership and commitment to make large scale changes in Society
  • Drivers of Change Award—Southern Africa Trust 2007
  • Women Empowerment Award 2007
  • Runner Up-Director of the Year Award for NGO sector in Zimbabwe-2008
  • Finalist One World Person of the Year 2007
  • One of the Ten Outstanding young people in the World by Junior Chamber International a worldwide leadership organization for young leaders and professionals
  • Voted First out of Ten Outstanding Young in Zimbabwe  2007 the Junior Chamber Zimbabwe
  • Awarded by the World Children’s Prize for the Rights of  the Child the Global Friends Award—2007 World Children’s Prize an equivalent to Nobel Prize forChildren in 2007 in a Global Vote by 5, 2 million children in 85 countries
  • Awarded the Zimbabwe Institute of Management National Contribution Award in 2007 immense contribution to the  nation
  • The United Nations Red Ribbon Award—2006 for addressing gender inequalities that fuel the HIV/AIDS epidemic
  • Hafkin Prize Award Finalist, 2003
  • Awarded for Creativity in Rural Life by the Women’s World Summit Foundation, Switzerland 2003. Prize Betty Makoni for Prevention of Child Abuse now. Renamed Prize for Prevention of Child Abuse is celebrated on 19 November annually
  • Small Technical Grant Award for the most innovative Grassroots Community Based Strategy
  • Certificate of Honour by Global Philanthropy Forum for   being the most Remarkable person, USA 2002