Protecting the Powerless

            From the top ten CNN heroes, Betty Makoni stood out the most to me.  I believe protecting the powerless is one of the greatest acts of human kindness, and she is doing just that.  As the founder of the Girl Child Network, she has provided a safe haven for girls who have been sexually abused.  Centered in Zimbabwe, this organization has saved 35,000 victims in the last 10 years.  That is 35,000 girls who will not be subjected to the constant fear of sexual abuse and will be able to heal and have a loving family to support and protect them.  Not only are they traumatized from what has happened to them, but many times they are given a disease such as HIV.  Staying silent is not the answer.  When faced with such evil and cruelty, a young girl needs serious therapy and unconditional love.  In Makoni’s Network, when a girl first comes in she is given medication, put in school, and given counseling.  Powerless at what was done to her and powerless to forget, she needs enormous support, which Betty Makoni devotes her life to.  But, being a hero is not always the easiest task.  Makoni says, "The youngest girl I ever came across was a day-old baby who was raped”.  In Zimbabwe men with AIDS believe they can be cured if they have sex with a woman, which is selfishly untrue.  Part of Makoni’s mission is to spread the word that this cruelty is occurring and end these horrific acts.  This selfless type of love is what everybody should strive to give in their lives.  Given such opportunities and power, we are called to help the powerless, who have no say and who cannot stop certain things.  Whether people are powerless within a dictatorship or powerless to sexual abuse, we have the resources to help them lead a better life and show them that they are loved and cared about.   

Comments

[Erin Sullivan]

Rachel, I completely agree with everything you said. Betty Makoni is a true hero, and that is why I chose her too. She was a rape victim, alone that is hard enough to overcome and grow from it. Not everyone can overcome such an horrific experience, such as she has, but she has become a role model for many other girls. She has already saved 35,00 girls in the last ten years, those numbers are ridiculous.
I also loved that you mentioned that you believe it is very selfish of the men in Africa, when you said that they believe having sex with a woman will cure their aids. I completely agree with you that it is very selfish and cruel. Passing on a disease, as serious as that, is very rude, selfish, and cruel. I addressed many of the same points you did.

[Kayla Ferreira]

Rachel, I agree that Betty Makoni stood out the most out of all of the other tremendous people. Betty Makoni fits the definition of a hero perfecttly. She shows courage and is admired for her brave deeds and noble qualities. She has started an organization that has saved over 35,000 girls. She has used her experiences in life to try to save other girls from what she went through. She was raped when she was 14 years old by her uncle. She survived being raped and overcame it and used it as a positive to try to save the lives of other girls.She is trying to stop girls being raped in Africa. By her doing that she can hopefully change the lives of millions of girls. That goes to show that one person can change the world. All you have to do is believe in something and set your mind to it. Never give up, until your dream is accomplished

[Amanda Rigby]

Okay, well first off, your post made me nauseous. Not from your ... incredible writing, but rather for the story itself. I agree with each point you made about the topic and I also find Betty Makoni an inspirational person. It takes a lot for a single person to stand aganist those who do wrong to either them or others, especially in an act such as this where dominance plays a large role. I also believe a "safe haven" for those who have been sexually abused is necessary because such those who have experienced such an incident usually proves to feel more alone. It is instances like those that need the most unconditional love, counseling, and therapy like you said. Also, like you pointed out, we have the resources to help them lead a better life and show them that they are loved and cared about so there is no reason why we should not be using them. What we need is people like Betty, selfless and inspiring, to do so. Such a selfless act is an admirable one and one deserving of the CNN award. We need more people like this in the grief-stricken world in which we live.

[Barbosa729]

Rachel, your decision to elect Betty Makoni is very admirable and heart warming. This woman has been able to do a lot for her community and for generations to come. By protecting these battering girls and women, she is able to provide a bastion for her community and help these people gain a better sense of life and accomplishment. The opportunities that Makoni is able to provide to these girls is remarkable and unbelievable in most cases. It is not everyday that a woman dedicates her life to save an entire population from future disease, abuse, and even death. The stories that have been described through your post are disturbing, which makes this person even more special to nominate her for the person of the year. It is amazing how some people are able to leave their old life, to dedicate numerous hours and resources to those who have nobody else to lean on. It is very important for what Makoni does to be recognized at an international level, so that others are able to join her cause around the world. “Protecting the Powerless” is a great title to give this woman because she is not only helping those who are hurt, but those who also have the potential to contribute to society. I am left speechless by hearing this story and her accounts have made me reconsider the great life that I have compared to those who are abused and neglected. It is sad to hear of these stories, but is also a great experience to hear about people like Betty that are able to make a true difference in the world.

[Zacmedeiros11]

Rachel I agree with who you picked its nice to hear about uplifting stories like this that show people who are trying to make the world a better place and improve their environment for all. It takes a lot for a single person to stand aganist those who do wrong to either them or others, especially in an act such as this where dominance plays a large role. I also believe a "safe haven" for those who have been sexually abused is necessary because such those who have experienced such an incident usually proves to feel more alone. It is instances like those that need the most unconditional love, counseling, and therapy like you said. Makoni is able to provide to these girls is remarkable and unbelievable in most cases. It is not everyday that a woman dedicates her life to save an entire population from future disease, abuse, and even death. The stories that have been described through your post are disturbing, which makes this person even more special to nominate her for the person of the year. It is amazing how some people are able to leave their old life, to dedicate numerous hours and resources to those who have nobody else to lean on. Hearing this story and her accounts have made me reconsider the great life that I have compared to those who are abused and neglected. It is sad to hear of these stories, but is also a great experience to hear about people. That is another great point because sometimes it seems that kids are teaching their parents a lot. In my blog I also talked about why a personal finance course would be beneficial, but I also talked about why it should not be required. So many students choose classes in their junior and senior year based on their interests and what they want to go into in the future, and something.