Support the end of Female Genital Multilation (FGM) in Kenya

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Support the end of Female Genital Multilation (FGM) in Kenya

Every 11 seconds, somewhere in the world a girl suffers female genital mutilation (FGM).

We are in need of urgent support for a project that is underway to rescue an estimated 1000-2500 young girls in Kenya during what is known as “cutting season.”

Some counties in Kenya have up to 84% of girls and women ‘cut,’ most often during the August school break and during the Christmas holiday. This practice is meant to prepare the girls to be “child brides”. A child bride is a young girl, typically between the ages of 9-15 whose family, typically because of extreme poverty, will sell their daughters to an older man for labor and forced relations. This experience obviously subjects them to a lifetime of health and psychological problems.

According to our partners in country, many clans will conduct their cutting ceremonies in the coming weeks. We anticipate that over 1000 girls will be targeted to be forced to undergo this brutal FGM.

Our partners on the ground have made us aware of this enormous problem and we have seen with our own eyes the struggles of many young girls as we visit rescue centers and villages all across the country. Becoming aware of what awaits these girls during this cutting event and the long-lasting effects has broken our hearts and set our feet to action. We are now putting the full force of our weight behind eradicating this practice all together, but our current and immediate focus is on rescuing as many girls as we can in a few targeted regions where this practice is most common.

We have boots on the ground and our team is in place. WHOlives staff is working closely with our local partners in Kenya. We have shipped 11 safe houses (large tents) and cots to house and protect and care for these girls trying to escape the cutting season. The practice of FGM is illegal in Kenya but is still very prevalent. These mini rescue centers will be set up near police stations in this region for the purpose of providing a safe place for girls to escape to. They will be provided shelter, protection, food, hygiene kits, medical attention, and intensive after care.

We are working with the local police and other protective municipalities to assess each girl to determine whether and when she is safe to return to her village after cutting season passes and if it is determined that a girl cannot return safely home, local authorities will help to find her a rescue center or shelter. This project will be ongoing until our mission is accomplished.

WHOlives exists to provide Water, Health and Opportunity to women and girls in impoverished communities all over the world, so these atrocities demand our attention. We have a plan, and we are already acting from a holistic approach that takes into account both the root cause and the big picture. From rescue to prevention.

Please do what you can, so we can do what we MUST!

Caution: Sensitive Material