End Female Genital Mutilation in 9 schools, Kenya

Dear Friend and partner

We are happy and humbled that you continue to support the project to End Female Genital Mutilation in our community. Courtesy of your support, we visited Sotik Highlands Primary School, Nyamira, on 29th August 2019. We are happy to report to you the impact you made in our community by giving to this project.

The theme of the event was- Empowering teenagers and young people to take up leadership and initiative in ending FGM, Drug Abuse, prevent spread of HIV/AIDS among young generation and economic empowerment of young adults through talents and advocacy for a better and bright Nyamira. The event reached 106 school-going children, 144 youths, and 27 adults. The event was carried through having open discussions on the health effects of FGM, possible ways that youths can use to put an end to the misogynist practise, and request to parents, political leaders, and the general community to join advocacy for the end of FGM.

Among the invited and present guest who shared with the participants were, HFAW members. LBTI members, Highlands Primary Schools Head-teacher and teachers, area Sub-Chief, the representative form MCA’s office, the representative from Gender office-Madam Beatrice, a representative from Children Services office, from Ministry of Youth affairs- Erick and field officer for ADRA, many more.

' I know that it is a painful thing done to young girls. I do not like it when other people are hurt', Collins, (Not his real name), answered when asked about what he knows about FGM. The sesssion was fruitful in gauging and spreading knowledge on the effects of FGM. 

‘Before this meeting, I did not know much about FGM except that it is done on girls and that any girl who has not gone through it is rejected by our community. Now I know that it is harmful and lacks benefits. I plan to spread the message to my friends who lack this information. Hopefully, they can help the organization in ending FGM in Kisii and Nyamira’, David, a youth from the Sotik high-lands area.

“We are grateful to HFAW from bringing this event to Sotik Highlands primary school. As teachers, we need help to keep children safe from harmful practises like FGM is prevalent in this region. FGM affects girls and interferes with their concentration and performance in academics. We urge our parents to stop holding on to the practice’, Rose, a teacher at Sotik Highlands primary school.

The day was carried on with activities- football (girls and boys), Pathfinders’ matching, chess/draft and athletics, reading competition, poetry; Children’s assembly called, Say-T; Music from the Girl living with disability(brother and sister both blind), Traditional dances, open discussions and speeches from key speakers and finally awarding of the winners. This training was possible because of you, our partner and friend. We are creating awareness, impacting children, young adults, and the general community with knowledge, and promoting the protection of children’s rights because of your kind donations. We humbly request you to help us complete this journey. Continue sharing our work with your friends and family.

Thank You 

Dear friend and partner Over the past few months, there has been a tough crackdown on the people subjecting girls to FGM in Kenya. We are happy that there have been positive outcomes from this crackdown. Unfortunately, if the report by Times Live towards the end of the year 2018 is anything to go by, there is a new trend of cross border-FGM. Girls from the Kuria and Maasai communities. The article reveals that the intense crackdown on FGM in Kenya has led to ‘vacation cutting’ of girls from Kenya in Tanzania and Uganda. The government of Kenya criminalized FGM in 2011 through the Anti-FGM Act. Anyone found to have played any role in subjecting a girl to undergo FGM faces imprisonment for at least three years. Also, the offence attracts a fine of up to $2000. In 2016 the East Africa Community (which includes Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda) enacted the East African Community Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act (EAC Act) to promote cooperation in the prosecution of perpetrators of FGM through harmonisation of laws, policies and strategies to end FGM across the region. However, implementation of this regional law how not been effective. One would think that such strict measures would discourage practising communities from subjecting girls to FGM and reduce its prevalence. Unfortunately, that is not the case. On the contrary, according to human rights activists quoted by the article, cross border-FGM is the new headache for advocacy. Cross border FGM indicates that the act is more about conformity to culture and obligation to pass it from one generation to another. It is based on the deep-rooted belief that a girl is not complete without undergoing FGM. It’s about fear, and it adversely affects girls even when it should not happen in this era of outpouring support for the protection of children’s rights. There is no available data showing trends of cross-border FGM. However, should the reports on emergence of cross-border FGM be true, then it creates a new challenge for anti-FGM activists. ‘The reports could be true. Being that Kisii borders Kuria in Migori, there is a need for equally anti-FGM efforts to be put in Kuria to avoid girls being taken from Kisii to Kuria for transportation to neighbouring countries: As we intensify our anti-fgm advocacy here in Kisii, through school-outreaches and community trainings, the children are becoming more aware of their rights and parents reached out publically declaring to end fgm. However, as we are yet to reach out to every corner of Kisii region, those that get to hear about anti-fgm law, without understanding the health effects, tend to take their children on vacation to other community or across the border to be cut. With assumption and perception that “across the border, or across the other community”, the law is not effectively implemented” says Leah Wandera, HFAW anti-FGM activists. The Abagusii community lives within the Nyanza region. One of the counties in Nyanza is Migori which borders Tanzania. The distance between Migori and Sirare, which is the Kenya-Tanzania border, is 134 kilometres. Apart from Migori also being home to the Kuria community, that has highest rate of FGM in Kenya, it takes approximately three hours on the road for one to travel from Nyamira to the Migori. Meaning, girls in Kisii are equally at high risk of cross-border FGM. ‘This means that our neighbours should put in more efforts to end FGM so that we have a strong advocacy rate’, adds Leah Wandera. The United Nations reports that at least two hundred million girls in the world have undergone FGM. The number accounts for only reported cases. We believe that it could be more if cross-border FGM is considered. We also believe that this is a wake-up call to the governments, child protection agencies, and human rights activists. Dear friend and partner, due to our advocacy efforts , many men have publicly declared to support the end of FGM https://web.facebook.com/hopefaw.org/videos/651142331963063/ and https://web.facebook.com/hopefaw.org/videos/362565791115132/. In the first video, Mr. Richard Mange’ro is remorseful that his first daughter had to go through FGM. However, after going through HFAW training, he has promised to protect not only two remaining daughters but also his neighbours’. This wonderful progress is possible because of your kind contributions. Thank you and may you continue supporting our work and sharing our profile with your friends so that they too can be part of making the world a safer place for girls from the Abagusii community.

Links:

• The wins of HFAW training men on health effects of FGM
• A public pledge to end FGM