Today marks GCNW’s beloved founder’s birthday! GCNova sends its warmest birthday wishes to Betty, with the hopes that she has had a blessed, beautiful day!

As for GCNova, we have taken a bit of a break since the spring semester’s successful Take Back the Night event. The final weeks of the semester were dominated by final exams and move-out. Two among us walked at the commencement ceremonies: congratulations to our 2010 graduates, GCNova Vice President Maren Miller and GCNova Villanova Outreach Chair Sarah Czar!

Summer 2010 will bring changes and plans for the future of GCNova, including a fall transition in leadership as we begin to look ahead to the coming years. Stay tuned!

Last week, GCNW founder and 2009 CNN Hero Betty Makoni visited Villanova University with Philadelphia activist Ben Escobar, of BE Associates. On Wednesday, April 7, she brought beauty, grace, and inspiration to our campus, and all who were lucky enough to be in attendance were incredibly moved. Our beloved Betty told her story, as well as the stories of her GCN girls, and we were blown away by her eloquence and genuine nature. For me, it was my second time being with Betty, and I was incredibly proud to introduce her to our GCNova team and Villanova’s students. Even more amazing, Betty was just as proud of us and what we have accomplished so far as a team here in Pennsylvania.

Still feeling the inspiration that Betty left us with last week, GCNova took further steps last night to break through the barrier of silence on college campuses.

Ten years ago, in Zimbabwe, an extraordinary woman began her life’s work for young women and children all around the world. Betty Makoni, founder of GCN Zimbabwe and GCNW, shared her incredible story with CNN and, in two days, will be sharing it with Villanova University. GCNova, the Center for Peace and Justice Education, and the Villanova Department of Communication is immensely proud to welcome Makoni — a recognized 2009 CNN Hero — to Villanova as she addresses child and sexual violence in Africa and abroad, what GCNW is doing to help, and how students can join the fight against human rights violations around the world.

Whatever your preconceived notions are about assault, “feminism,” or gender issues, put them aside for an hour on Wednesday, April 7, 2010 and come out to hear this amazing, beautiful woman.

It seemed like, last semester, things flew by because we were preoccupied first with getting GCNova organized, then with getting our first fundraising drive underway. Now, after taking a much-needed break in January, it seems as though February lasted about five minutes! It’s March, and Villanova will officially be back from spring break on Monday, March 8.

Which means, it’s about time GCNova gets back in action.

after a month hiatus, GCNova is back.

though we realize that the issues we fight for never sleep, we really needed a break. after the crazy rush of fundraising and events at the very end of fall semester, along with the added stress of final exams and papers, our students have been enjoying a well-deserved vacation. now, however, we are officially in the midst of the spring semester and are resuming our advocacy duties!