Donations received
13/07/10
| Help the Tasaru Ntonomok Initiative in Kenya protect young girls from the dangerous practice of female genital mutilation (FGM). |
 Although FGM is illegal in Kenya, it is widely practiced within the Maasai community as a rite of passage into maturity for women. At times this occurs as early as when girls are 9 years old. FGM allows for the practice of early child marriage (ECM), and girls find their education prematurely cut short, often reaching just 6th grade of primary school. Educating Maasai girls of their rights is vital, as the tradition of dowry contributes to the view of women as personal "property". In times of financial hardship the dowry is used as a source of financial income for poverty-stricken families, furthering the pressure for marriage at such an early stage. As such, young girls are forced to undertake FGM to ‘ready' them for marriage. But the dangers associated with FGM are great; increasing the spread of HIV and STDs, and causing extreme labour pains or death during child birth, amongst many other dangerous associated risks.
TNI is a community-based organisation in the Narok district of Kenya. The organisation aims to create awareness and educate the community on the effects and dangers of FGM, and to empower women to defend their rights and reject harmful cultural practices. In 2002, TNI started a shelter to provide some form of safety net for the girls who run away from FGM and ECM. It ensures that they are protected from further harassment, their rights and integrity are respected, and they continue studying at schools which are guarded and far away from their family home. They also offer a non-harmful Alternative Rite of Passage, which teaches young girls about being a woman, including reproductive health and gender equality. TNI believe education is essential to empower Maasai girls, and wish to fulfil this aspect of the girls' care whilst they require protection and mediation with their families. The centre is also saving to erect windmill water pumps to provide clean water to the surrounding community, in which women must currently travel extraordinary distances to fetch water which is unclean and causes the spread of disease. They need your help to raise awareness amongst the communities about the dangers of FGM and Your donation will have many positive impacts; the girls at TNI are less likely to contract HIV and AIDS; they are less likely to contract infections and even die because of the mutilation; they will be protected from the trauma of undergoing the mutilation and they will become educated and empowered to trust their own decision-making and defend their rights in the future.
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ECM, pay for tuition and accommodation for the brave girls who seek protection at the shelter, and build water pumps to allow Maasai communities to live healthily and productively.