RESCUE 10,000 KENYAN GIRLS AT RISK OF HORRIFIC FGM

During the past quarter, Cherish Others sponsored 5 people from the Transmara community to attend the Kenya Institute of Professional Counseling.  Ruth also obtained a professional certificate from this Institute some years ago and found the course immensely valuable to help her counsel young people. Those sponsored include 1 young woman, 3 young men, and 1 older woman (they are pictured in the photo).  The purpose of sponsoring them was to equip them with the skills to enable them to serve as peer educators and counselors in the community.  The two women will work with girls who have been affected by FGM, early marriage, and tendencies to drop out of school and with their families.  The three young men will work with young men to educate them regarding these issues so that they will be supportive to the girls in the community.  This is very important, because young men often pressure girls to drop out of school, often to marry prematurely.

Ruth, the Director of Cherish Others, spent substantial time speaking with newly elected officials following the local elections which had taken place.  She also began engaging with th3e newly elected Member of Parliament for Transmara in order to gain his support on the issues which Cherish Others deals with.

Cherish Others also held an Alternative Rights of Passage event for girls during August, which is a peak period for the practicing of FGM, since school is in recess at that time.