PROBLEM DESCRIPTION
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a practice that involves the total or partial removal of female external genitalia for non-medical reasons. This practice is practiced mainly in African countries, but cases of FGM are recorded all over the world.
Female genital mutilation is usually carried out on pre-pubescent girls at the age of 4-8, and its consequences are felt throughout their lives, often leading to premature death. Heavy bleeding, menstrual pain, discomfort related to urination, infections, cysts, or complications in childbirth – these are just a few examples of the health problems faced by women who have undergone FGM. Furthermore, this practice has a number of psychological consequences.
Female genital mutilation is committed in the name of tradition and culture. Some communities believe that this ritual is needed for a girl to reach maturity, marry, or stay chaste.
It is estimated that over 200 million women and girls worldwide live with the consequences of FGM, of which around live 600,000 in Europe.
ORGANISATION
Founded in 2007, Save a Girl Save a Generation fights against the practice of female genital mutilation, forced marriage and all forms of gender-based violence against women and girls. The organisation is headed by two women - mother and daughter, Asha and Hayat. Born in Kenya, Asha was five years old when her external genitalia were completely removed, with the help of her grandmother and mother. This traumatic experience made Asha determined to prevent FGM. When, as a young girl, she was forced into a marriage and then became pregnant, she did everything she could to keep Hayat from being circumcised. She started her life in exile and eventually settled in Spain, where, together with Hayat, she founded the Save a Girl Save a Generation organisation.
Asha and Hayat have been defending the rights of young girls in Spain and Kenya for many years. In Spain, they mainly work with migrant women and refugees from Africa, supporting them in the integration process and the protection of their rights. Save a Girl Save a Generation creates a safe space for development for them. For instance, it organises Spanish lessons, vocational and artistic courses, classes in reproductive and sexual health; at the same time, it spreads knowledge about the prevention of FGM and the rights of women in Spain. Save a Girl Save a Generation also works with professional groups that deal with communities of African origin (doctors, nurses, teachers, social workers, police officers), organising various training courses for them.
In Kenya, Save a Girl Save a Generation carries out educational activities to provide scholarships to the most vulnerable girls in Garissa, where Asha comes from. The organisation has also started building a "Safe in Nairobi" shelter home, which is also an educational facility for girls fleeing various forms of violence, including FGM. In Kenya, Save a Girl Save a Generation also conducts training for many social groups in the fight against FGM, forced marriage, and other types of violence.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
We support the activities of Save a Girl Save a Generation both in Spain and Kenya. We are a partner of the CHAIN project, co-financed by the European Union and implemented in Spain. It aims to strengthen the prevention, protection, and support of victims of two forms of gender-based violence – female genital mutilation and forced marriage. As part of the project, numerous awareness-raising campaigns and training courses focused on girls at risk and community members practicing both practices, as well as European institutions and entities carrying out preventive actions are being carried out.
In Kenya, we support a training programme in five counties. As part of the project, community members who practice FGM and forced marriage will be trained as trainers who will then educate their communities and different professional groups about FGM and other forms of gender-based violence, thus becoming local leaders in the fight against these practices.
