Kenya Big dream against Female Genital Mutilation

Thank you for changing the lives of children and their families in Kenya. Because of your generosity, they now live in safer communities and have the opportunity to thrive.

We are working to reach even more people, expanding our work in Kenya to ensure children are protected from exploitation, abuse, and violence.In FY22, with your support 805 children completed Alternative Rites of Passage (ARP) ceremonies, and 414,060 people were reached through our child protection mass awareness initiatives (including community meetings and radio talk shows).

Daicy is 17 and in grade 11 at Chesta Secondary School in West Pokot County. She was among the 61 girls and 16 boys from Tikit Village who attended the first-ever Alternative Rite of Passage (ARP) training in their village.

World Vision Kenya recently began work in this area where the FGM prevalence rate is at 90% and child marriage rate is at 80%. World Vision organized this first-ever Alternative Rite of Passage training through the Kenya Big Dream project. This project ensures that boys and girls take an active role in influencing change in their communities.

“When the facilitator was teaching us on the dangers of FGM and its lasting effects on a woman’s body, I recalled what happened to my older sister,” Daicy says. “She succumbed to peer pressure and without my Mum’s knowledge. When she got married, she had problems giving birth and she almost died. Even now her body has lost control over passage of urine and stool,” she says.

When she was about 13, her Grandmother reminded her that she was of age to undergo the customary Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). She almost gave in to her grandmother, but decided to approach her mother, who refused to allow her to undergo the rite of passage. Her mother wanted her to pursue an education and not think of getting married like her peers. Daicy performed well in Grade 8 and transitioned to high school.

• FY22_Semiannual_Report_Kenya_Big_Dream.pdf (PDF)