At just 9 years old, Fatima was held down and cut, her cries ignored in the name of "tradition." She survived, but with lifelong pain and trauma. In Nigeria rural communities, many girls still face the risk of Female Genital Mutilation due to long-standing cultural beliefs and lack of awareness. This project will work directly with families, traditional leaders, schools, and survivors to end FGM at the grassroots, protecting girls before harm occurs and supporting women already already affected.
FGM affects over 200 million girls and women globally, with Nigeria accounting for millions of cases. It causes severe pain, infections, childbirth complications, and lasting psychological trauma. Despite laws, FGM continues due to deep-rooted cultural beliefs, silence, and lack of awareness. Girls from poor, rural communities are most at risk, and many have no one to protect them.
We will protect girls and shift norms through community dialogues, survivor-led advocacy, school education, and engagement with traditional and religious leaders. The project will provide counseling for survivors, train local champions against FGM, and support families to choose safe, rights-based alternatives, replacing harmful traditions with dignity, health, and hope.
Our goal is to end FGM in targeted communities by changing beliefs, empowering girls, and strengthening local protection systems. Long term, we aim for safer childhoods, healthier women, and communities that uphold girls' rights. By investing in education and advocacy today, we help build a future where no girl is cut again. One community at a time, little by little, we will end female genital mutilation in Nigeria.
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