Zero Tolerance from the Ground Up
February 6 was ZERO TOLERANCE for FGM Day.
Kenya Works was on the ground in Musenke, leading the community to a new understanding of the harmful effects of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
- FGM is widely practiced as an initiation to indicate a girl is ready for marriage, often around age 11
- FGM and child marriage almost always keep a girl from completing her education and lead to early motherhood
- The long-term economic impact hurts girls, families and communities
- There is no medical benefit to FGM and the practice introduces many long-term health risks
- It is primarily done by nonprofessional practitioners, in unsterile environments
Kenya Works enters a community like Musenke with the support of a leader and a spark of willingness from within to change their cultural practices.
Together, they build coalitions of men, women, boys and girls creating unity and self-declarations to eliminate the practice from within.
When girls and boys raise their voices against human rights violations, they change our world.
More Stories
The Wedding That Never Happened
A childhood protected. A future kept open. Dorothy’s story, and her family’s.
A child herself when she sought safety. Today, a registered nurse.
Seven years after arriving at a shelter with her baby, Esther is caring for children in the place that welcomed them.
An Oasis of Digital Opportunity
How the Kenya Works computer lab opens doors for children, scholars, and community members.