Keep safe 2000 girls at risk of FGM in rural Kenya

Project summary

Our project “Keep safe 2000 Girls at Risk of FGM in Rural Kenya,” aims to respond to girls at risk of female genital mutilation and protect them through early interventions such as providing basic necessities, working with the local authorities and children services to rescue at risk girls. Through these interventions, we provide immediate support and long term empowerment to hundreds of girls building our momentum to break cycles of violence that affects the lives of these girls.

Activities progress

We have provided school supplies to the most vulnerable and at risk girls such as basic school essentials to help alleviate the financial constraints from their parents. As a result, they can stay in schools preventing them from dropping out of school hence putting them at risk of female genital mutilation.

Our safe spaces co created with the girls continue to be a platform for conducting life skills and empowerment workshops for girls impacted by FGM and at risk girls. As a result, they have noted improved self esteem and agency which has enabled them to reclaim their dignity, leadership and resilience. They have also noted improved knowledge of their rights and have become changemakers in their communities advocating for the rights of other girls.

We have strengthened our collaboration with local partners, schools and community health promoters to co create networks of support for the survivors. This has ensured that the girls receive caregiving protocols from their parents and guardians without negligence because of their refusal to go through FGM during the last season.

As we continue with our efforts to shift community perceptions, we have engaged parents, local leaders and teachers in discussions aimed at promoting enabling environments for the FGM girls survivors in Kuria. These efforts are intentional for the wellbeing of girls to ensure they are protected and feel safe to thrive in their communities without fear of stigmatization and isolation.

Lessons learned

Supporting at risk girls with basic school essentials has helped ease the financial burden of their parents, as a result, girls are staying in school protecting them from risk of going through FGM.

Strengthening our collaboration with local partner, school and community health promoters has been crucial in co creating networks for interventions to help the survivors and at risk girls. It is also crucial in identifying at risk girls of FGM as we head towards the end of the year.

Enhancing the safe spaces have made the girls to build their confidence, improving their agency and becoming empowered to not conform to societal pressures to go through FGM. They are becoming empowered to advocate for their rights and as a result becoming change makers in their communities helping to keep other girls safe from FGM.

Despite our ongoing efforts to shift community perceptions regarding FGM, some parents and girls still remain resistant to carry on the practice. This creates a tension between our advocacy and their deeply rooted beliefs, often leading to conflicting efforts that hinder our progress.

As we aim to expand our services to reach more girls by extending our safe spaces, securing long term funding for our scalability and sustainability efforts remains to be challenging. The short term funding cycles often fall short in supporting the continued programs and impact of the safe spaces.

Looking forward

We aim to strengthen the capacity of the co created networks so as we reach more at risk girls and offer support and care they require. We also aim to strengthen the engagements with the parents, local leaders and teachers for our efforts of promoting enabling environments for the survivors of FGM, at risk girls. Additionally for the sustainability of our extended safe spaces, we plan to seek more long term funding opportunities so as not only we reach more girls, but ensure our efforts are sustainable.

Conclusion

As we aim to protect 2000 girls from FGM by 2027, our efforts are a success because of the support we receive from you. Your support is not only contributing to the objectives of the project, but it is empowering a girl who in turn is advocating for another girls’ rights and as a result building a network of girls who are becoming change makers in their communities.

Your donation is an investment for a future where girls are empowered to lead in advocating for communities that nurtures their dreams free from fear of limitations due to harmful cultural practices.