Zimbabwe - Betty Jasoni

“THOSE WITHOUT MISSION WILL SAY MY VISION IS JUST AN ILLUSION.”I have come across children who have been abused sexually by their guardians or parents to the extent of contracting STIs or HIV. I have been triggered by such instances to instil change in young people’s lives, especially those who are survivors of abuse.I was elected as a ward Councillor in 2013 and I have been involved in gender works after attending International Centre for Local Democracy in Sweden. As a human being, it is one of my personal objectives to eradicate any forms of abuse within my country, especially gender-based violence.I work as a service provider. As a councillor, I work with people and communities at large to render my services to them. As a woman, I would like to see other women succeed, especially young women. The society has always stereotyped men as strong and making them think that leadership traits come from masculinity. Therefore I would like to break that stereotype, and help capacitate a girl child.Championing gender equality have spread the message to my kids at home especially towards boys. They have learnt to accept and appreciate gender equality. I believe it is quite important to groom boys at a very young age that they should learn respecting women and treating them nicely.As a gender champion, my attitude towards gender has changed. I am now aware of my rights and that of every other woman within the society, and I am quite aware of the SADC Gender Protocol. My standard of living have improved and I have a capacity to act and negotiate for women to be treated as equal as men within the society.