By Mahnaz M. Harrison | President and CEO
The last few months have been a testament to resilience, collaboration, and the power of collective action in the fight against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). As school holidays and cultural pressures persist, our team at Last Mile4D continues to step up efforts to protect vulnerable girls, engage communities, and nurture a generation free of FGM. Your support remains the cornerstone of this progress.
Protecting Girls During the Cutting Season
This quarter coincided with another extended school holiday—a period that, as you know, presents heightened risks of FGM. Anticipating the danger, we intensified our anti-FGM initiatives to safeguard girls and empower them to resist the harmful practice.
Anti-FGM Sanctuary Day Camps: We ran educational camps across 21 schools, engaging a total of 1,995 girls and 600 boys over several weeks. These camps combined education, empowerment, and fun. Through roleplays and participatory sessions, girls learned to say "No" to FGM and to seek help from local authorities when faced with threats. Boys, as key future changemakers, participated actively, standing up against harmful traditions.
Alternative Rites of Passage: We organized graduation ceremonies in 21 schools where girls celebrated their transition to womanhood without being cut. Over 1,995 girls participated in these ceremonies, marked by tree-planting activities symbolizing growth, health, and hope. More than 1000 trees were planted in honor of uncut girls. However, due to a lack of funds, we had to plant one tree for every 2 girls instead of our usual one tree per girl. With your help, we can restore this symbolic practice and plant more trees to honor each uncut girl individually.
Media Coverage: Amplifying Our Impact
Our graduation ceremonies in both Kuria and West Pokot counties received extensive coverage from local radio stations and television networks. This media attention helped amplify the voices of the girls, their families, and community leaders who are advocating for an end to FGM. By showcasing these ceremonies, we not only celebrated the achievements of the uncut girls but also inspired other communities to join the fight against harmful traditions.
Engaging Communities: Shifting Perspectives
Our community outreach has been pivotal in fostering sustainable change. This quarter, we conducted 11 community sensitization meetings across several villages, bringing together 1,151 community members, including parents, chiefs, teachers, and religious leaders. These meetings emphasized:
· The illegality of FGM in Kenya
· The long-term harm FGM causes to girls’ health and education
· The role of families in protecting their daughters and breaking harmful cycles
Nearly 92% of the parents in attendance pledged publicly to protect their daughters from FGM—a significant shift in cultural attitudes.
Your Support Makes These Possible
Your contributions are the lifeline for this work. Every girl enrolled, every tree planted, and every family engaged is a testament to the power of your support. Together, we can ensure that every girl has the chance to dream, thrive, and lead a healthy life with dignity.
A $500 gift plants a grove of 150 trees, celebrating uncut girls and providing hope for generations to come.
Follow our journey:
· Instagram: @Lastmile4d
· Twitter: @LastMile_4d
· Website: www.lastmile4d.org
Thank you for walking alongside us in this fight. Your unwavering support fuels our progress, one girl and one community at a time.
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