In Maasai community,young girls below age 10 years are subjected to horrific cultural practice of female genital mutilation/cutting, FGM/C, as rite of passage from childhood to womanhood. Thereafter, denied opportunity to go on with schooling and instead married off. The supposed women, at onset of puberty, begin to bear children and manage homes.Cherish Others has identified over 5000 girls at risk, some orphans, by making home visits, counsel and give support and educate community to stop FGM
Female Genital Mutilation, FGM is a rite of passage from childhood to womanhood, a sign of respect and maturity.The girl is ready for marriage regardless of age. Female circumcision, is done to enhance the woman's fidelity to her polygamous husband because the woman's self-satisfaction and interest in sex is reduced. Custom demands all girls to marry. Even though illegal in Kenya, Maasai families schedule every year, 10000 girls, for circumcision during the months of April, August and December.
The project aims at putting complete stop to FGM in the community in organized awareness campaigns and education seminars. It will denounce FGM as human rights issue and a main contributing factor to women marginalization. The project will seek not only to empower the girls with education including material support, but to change the behavior and attitudes of target groups that include leaders, elders, youth, women, teachers, social workers, circumcisers/ medical practitioners and social workers
10,000 girls will be saved from FGM and early marriage and their self confidence restored.10000 girls will access education. Increased awareness of harmfulness of FGM within Masai community reaching 500 elders, 3000 morans, 1000 leaders, 5000 women. Positive regard and perception of community towards girls and women who have not been put through FGM who otherwise would have been ostracized, Socioeconomic empowerment of girls, women and orphans benefit from material support like personal effects.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
