When Ninni and Teresa arrived at Kilimani village in Isiolo County, a group of young girls was preparing to share how they have been raising awareness on the harmful effects of Female Genital Mutilation / Cutting (FGM/C) in their villages. These girls, aged between 19 and 21, call themselves “Change Makers”.
It was a very warm afternoon, and the girls invited Ninni to sit on a mat laid in the shade under a tree. They all sat in a circle, facing each other.
Every now and then, the wind rustled through the leaves, carrying with it small swirls of dust. The place remained calm though, and in this calmness their conversation began.
Ninni noted that the girls, when speaking to her and the team, were sometimes shy. The topic was very personal and sensitive. But as the discussion went on, their voices rose. They spoke about how being a part of the program empowered them to become advocates against the practice of FGM/C.
But how was this group formed, and why do they call themselves the change makers? Are they alone, or are there similar groups with the same aims and ideas?
Over the last 4 years, ActionAid International Kenya (AAIK) has been leading efforts to eliminate FGM/C in Isiolo County through The Girl Generation African Led movement to end FGM/C (TGG-ALM) programme. This year, AAIK focused on scaling and sustainability initiatives by integrating conversations on the effects of FGM/C and other rights violations against women and girls into the Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA).
VSLAs are self-managed community groups that focus on women’s economic empowerment through savings, loans, and financial literacy training. AAIK chose to work with them because of their strong local networks and community trust. These qualities make them a safe and supportive space to discuss issues related to women’s rights, well-being, and collective strength. That is why these conversations are so important for addressing the practice of FGM/C.
During the visit, the Monitoring & Evaluation team engaged with communities to follow up on the progress of anti-FGM/C awareness activities within the programme.
58 VSLA leaders were trained in villages within Kiina, Oldonyiro and Burat wards. While this might seem like a relatively small number, these leaders reached more than 1000 people during their weekly sessions.
Through engagement with the program, women and girls became aware of the physical, psychological, and social consequences of the practice. Kinna, a VSLA member, shared:
“Before these sessions, I knew FGM was practiced, but I didn’t fully understand how harmful it was. Now, I can explain it to my daughters and other women in the community”.
Women were not the only ones who reached out through these conversations. Some men have also joined as allies to advocate against the various rights violations against women and girls. As one of the participants, VSLA Member Oldonyiro, shared:
“I have two girls, and their father wanted them to be cut. But I convinced him otherwise… my husband has now become one of those teaching others against the practice.”
A lot of women expressed willingness to challenge these norms and advocate for change within their families and communities by sharing their knowledge.
“We also reach out to girls who are out of school, sharing how the VSLA has helped us at a young age and encouraging them to start their own groups or join ours to support efforts towards eradication of FGM/C” – VSLA Member Burat.
The Change Makers is one of those groups. They were trained by the VSLA leaders, and they became leaders themselves. They engage with the communities in their villages and advocate for women’s agency in decision-making related to their health and well-being.
“We make it our responsibility to pass this knowledge to others, especially to new mothers, encouraging them not to cut their daughters.” – Change Makers group.
For more than 9 months, these girls shared the anti-FGM/C knowledge in their communities to break the cycle and make lasting impacts. They talk to young mothers, visit schools, engage in community meetings, and peer-to-peer groups. As they say, the most important period of the work is during the long holidays from October to December, when a lot of girls are out of school and FGM/C practice becomes the most active.
This work is not just about sharing knowledge but advocating and giving others the chance to do it. It is about a better future for the next generation of girls.
As Ninni was listening to this group, she thought to herself:
“It was empowering to listen to the girls speaking about this problem. It is impressive how strongly these young girls are committed to ending FGM and preventing their younger sisters from going through it”.
It became clear to her during this meeting that each conversation, each training is a small, but important step towards ending FGM/C. Each story and each discussion transform the community and inspire a change. Just like with the change makers, one girl passes her knowledge to five others, and each of them does the same. That is how awareness spreads and change multiply. Once started, the process cannot be stopped.
Author: Vladislav Belousov, EU Solidarity Corps Volunteer – Rebuild Project/ActionAid Kenya