FGM August 2015 Newsletter

4
Termination of Female Genital Mutilation Project Termination of Female Genital Mutilation Project Inside this issue: Abundant Life Centre 2 The Kuria Story 2 Successful birth after Fistula Surgery 2 The Samburu Story 3 PicSpeak 3 Contacts/Closing 4 Volume , Issue August 2015 The year started with a full plate of activities that run throughout the year. The major activities were the fgm ed- ucation program of seminars to boys and girls as well as to adult groups on the reality and consequences that FGM brings to the entire society. We are happy to announce that re- quests for FGM seminars increased tremendously this year as a result of which the project has moved to Keri- cho Diocese. This to us is a sign that the impact of our efforts is felt in the community. The facilitators in the field, directed by Dr. Sr. Ephigenia did excellent work to meet these requests. The second PHASE of the project, i.e the construction of Abundant Life Centreis also progressing well. At the close of the seminars partici- pants are always dismayed by what they learn about FGM. They however end up being our biggest ambassadors. Termination of FGM Project television and condemned it. The chief is in good hands and is recovering well from the injuries inflicted by the arrow. During our Rite of passage seminar in Bomet, a chief was shot with an arrow in the opposite valley to where we were because he stopped a group of people from circumcising some girls. Chair of the Anti- Female Genital Mutilation Board, Hon Jebii Kilimo, spoke about this incident on News of the Month Young Maasai girls

description

Termination of Female Genital Mutilation Project Newsletter (August, 2015)

Transcript of FGM August 2015 Newsletter

Termination of Female Genital Mutilation Project Ter mi nat i onof Femal e Geni t al Mut i l at i onPr oj ec tInside this issue: Abundant Life Centre2 The Kuria Story2 Successful birth after Fistula Surgery 2 The Samburu Story3 PicSpeak3 Contacts/Closing4 Volume, IssueAugust 2015 The year started with a full plate of activities that run throughout the year. The major activities were the fgm ed-ucation program of seminars to boys and girls as well as to adult groups on the reality and consequences that FGM brings to the entire society. We are happy to announce that re-quests for FGM seminars increased tremendously this year as a result of which the project has moved to Keri-cho Diocese. This to us is a sign that the impact of our efforts is felt in the community. The facilitators in the field, directed by Dr. Sr. Ephigenia did excellent work to meet these requests. The second PHASE of the project, i.e the construction of Abundant Life Centre is also progressing well. At the close of the seminars partici-pants are always dismayed by what they learn about FGM. They however end up being our biggestambassadors. Termination of FGM Project television andcondemned it. The chief is in good hands and is recovering well from the injuries inflicted by the arrow. During our Rite ofpassage seminar in Bomet, a chief was shot with an arrow in theopposite valley to where we were because he stopped a group ofpeople fromcircumcising some girls. Chair of the Anti-Female GenitalMutilation Board, Hon Jebii Kilimo, spoke about this incident on News of the Month Young Maasai girls TFGM NewsPage 2 Abundant Life Centre Mother delivers after fistula surgery financial self-sustainability. It will contain a hostel block for 96participants and 4facilitators, and will host activities such as training campaigners, training of trainers, psycho-spiritual heal-ing among others. Construction began in March 2014. A fewdelays were faced but those have beenovercome. Few weeks ago, the construction has taken momentum andfinishing is underway. This will allow other interior functions to run concurrently hopefully much faster to allow it to be operational the soonest possible. The board hopes tointroduce incomegenerating activities that will supplement the running costs of the centre as well as push the centre towards its For the past year, fistula operations are now offered free of charge in all Government hospitals in Kenya and by many private hospitals. The frequent coverage of fistula situation in the Kenyan media has made many women who have suffered in silently for many years, come to the fore and seek treatment.Women continue to come to the open after our seminars and our staffbring them to various hospitals. One woman who, through our intervention, underwent a successful surgery. She was able to give birth to a healthy baby. Hers is a testi-mony to others; that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The girls were miserable and frightened but the mob escorting them were dancing and singing in frenzy wearing masks and tins and bells tinkles whistles bottles all over the body. Blood was all over the road. Abundant Life Centre nearing comple-tion. The Kuria Story and was carried shoulder high by men who said what a lucky girl she was because a very rich and influential man had booked her for marriage.On 27th December our team met a group of 20 Kuria girls some as young as 10 years, at the Kenya Tanzania Border. They had just been cut by Kenyan circumcisers whom Tanza-nia parents say are experts for the job. The girls were miserable and frightened but the mob escorting them were dancing and singing in frenzy wearing masks and tins and bells tinkles whistles bottles all over the body. Blood was all over the road. One big girl with a full bust fainted Our first child born after we sent her mother for Fistula SurgeryPage 3Volume, Issue Samburu Success On 22nd December 2014, over 3000 SamburuElders were aired on Kenyan tele-vision demonstrating against the Government for stopping FGM without consult-ing them. They stated categorically that theywant FGM for their daughters and wives. FortunatelyagroupofSamburuwomenspoketothemediasometimelaterex-pressingtheirangerthattheirelders,whoaremen,havespokenonFGMand theyare not the ones who are cut. Sometime later, agroup of SamburuMorans (young warriors) stated the same opinion saying they do not want FGM for their wives and daughters.This incident is a positive one for us campaigners against FGM because the inci-dents demonstrated to us that there is some change taking place between the old-ergenerationandtheyoungergenerationwithregardtoFGM.Suchapublic declaration denouncing the elders has never been heard of before in that commu-nity. Samburu girl Visiting Maasailand TFGM went to Maasailand and engaged the elders in a discus-sion about FGM. The results were positive and they promised to ensure that their girls are not affected by this culture. Our Friends Our friends from Misean Cara came to see us. We took them on a tour to see the progress we are making. Misean Cara is one of our partners and together we make the fight against FGM successful; one day, one girl, one communi-ty at a time. Misean Cara Maa Elders PicSpeak FGM tools TFGM Loreto Sisters IBVM Loreto Msongari, off Muthangari Road TERMINATION OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION PROJECT We are on the web www.stopfgm.or.ke Copyright 2015. Termination of Female Genital Mutilation Project. TERMINATION OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION PROJECT The image shows the kind of tools used in female genital mutilation. Of note is the circumciser's hands; which are unclean. This makes it very easy for girls to develop complications and other dis-eases later on. 1Anaesthetic and antiseptics are generally not used unless the procedure is carried out by medical practitioners. In communities where infib-ulations is practiced, girls' legs are often bound together to immobilize them for 10 - 14 days, allowing the for-mation of scar tissue. 1UNFPA The tools of trade. Women undergo FGM under these unhygienic conditions. Phone: 0721-532858 Phone: 0734-859269 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]