The Girl Child Network of Zimbabwe, a Global Fund Grantee, was awarded the United Nations Development Program Red Ribbon, for addressing the relationship between gender inequities and HIV/AIDS prevention in Zimbabwe.

Grantee: The Girl Child Network, Zimbabwe

Betty Makoni, the networks director and founder accepted the award at the 16th International AIDS Conference in Toronto earlier this month. Makoni founded the network in 1999, and it has since worked to empower 20,000 girls. The Global Fund was proud to give the network an $8,000 grant in 2000. The network includes over 300 girls' clubs that help girls learn about their freedoms and rights, as well as several transitional homes for girls who have been raped.

The award acknowledges the Girl Child Network for the most innovative and least recognized effort to fight HIV/AIDS in the developing world.