Even though I had always heard of Female genital mutilation, I never full understood it until I left for the Peace Corps in 2007.
The country that I served was Senegal, West Africa, a developing country with strong cultural ethics.
As I sat with my family one evening, I noticed that one of the little girls, only 7 years old at the time, and her parents were missing.
Very soon, I heard the little girl scream and cry out loud.
Her older sister sat by me and said, "Do you know what's going on?"
I said no.
She explained to me what they were doing to her.
Even though the practice of FGM was illegal in Senegal, people were still performing the procedure without any medical assistance.
I knew that it was part of their traditions, but it still disturbed me.
There is nothing worst than hearing a girl scream for help when there is nothing you can do to save her.
For that 7-year-old girl, it is too late.
But thousands of girls everyday are in danger of genital mutilation.
It was this experience, which led me to bring higher awareness to the world and help end the FGM procedures that are forced among girls worldwide.
FGM is mostly performed in Africa and the Middle East by both Muslims and non-Muslims. It is not called for in the Koran although it mostly occurs in countries that are Islamic.
Migrants from countries where FGM is common have continued the practice here in the United States.
Victims of FGM suffer multiple complications after the procedure.
Girls who are at risk are defined as girls born to a woman who has undergone FGM or a child who lives closely with someone who has.
In countries such as Egypt and Somalia more than 90% of women have undergone some kind of FGM.
Objectives of the Kaseva & Co. program
The main objectives of the Kaseva & Co. program include:
• Campaigning against the harmful traditional practices affecting the health of women and children
• Promoting the benefits of different cultures and traditions.
• Creating an understanding among different cultures and societies in the Nation
Kaseva & Co.'s aim is through the awareness and change of values to prevent this practice among villages in Developing countries and among the immigrant population here in America originating from FGM risk countries.
Supported Programs
1. Some programs integrate and promote different cultures. Some: organizations carry out cultural exchanges, traditional shows, exhibitions, seminars and group discussions.
2. Campaign against harmful traditional practices on females. ?Although it is impossible to force a culture to give up its traditions, our aim is through awareness to help change of values and to prevent its practice among populations originating from FGM risk countries.
Many Organizations against FGM are not seeking money. They are seeking awareness to this problem to take action against those who perform this act of child abuse.
Please help us end FGM worldwide.
Links to other useful resources:
• WHO page on FGM: www.who.int
• UNICEF page on FGM: www.unicef.org
The country that I served was Senegal, West Africa, a developing country with strong cultural ethics.
As I sat with my family one evening, I noticed that one of the little girls, only 7 years old at the time, and her parents were missing.
Very soon, I heard the little girl scream and cry out loud.
Her older sister sat by me and said, "Do you know what's going on?"
I said no.
She explained to me what they were doing to her.
Even though the practice of FGM was illegal in Senegal, people were still performing the procedure without any medical assistance.
I knew that it was part of their traditions, but it still disturbed me.
There is nothing worst than hearing a girl scream for help when there is nothing you can do to save her.
For that 7-year-old girl, it is too late.
But thousands of girls everyday are in danger of genital mutilation.
It was this experience, which led me to bring higher awareness to the world and help end the FGM procedures that are forced among girls worldwide.
FGM is mostly performed in Africa and the Middle East by both Muslims and non-Muslims. It is not called for in the Koran although it mostly occurs in countries that are Islamic.
Migrants from countries where FGM is common have continued the practice here in the United States.
Victims of FGM suffer multiple complications after the procedure.
Girls who are at risk are defined as girls born to a woman who has undergone FGM or a child who lives closely with someone who has.
In countries such as Egypt and Somalia more than 90% of women have undergone some kind of FGM.
Objectives of the Kaseva & Co. program
The main objectives of the Kaseva & Co. program include:
• Campaigning against the harmful traditional practices affecting the health of women and children
• Promoting the benefits of different cultures and traditions.
• Creating an understanding among different cultures and societies in the Nation
Kaseva & Co.'s aim is through the awareness and change of values to prevent this practice among villages in Developing countries and among the immigrant population here in America originating from FGM risk countries.
Supported Programs
1. Some programs integrate and promote different cultures. Some: organizations carry out cultural exchanges, traditional shows, exhibitions, seminars and group discussions.
2. Campaign against harmful traditional practices on females. ?Although it is impossible to force a culture to give up its traditions, our aim is through awareness to help change of values and to prevent its practice among populations originating from FGM risk countries.
Many Organizations against FGM are not seeking money. They are seeking awareness to this problem to take action against those who perform this act of child abuse.
Please help us end FGM worldwide.
Links to other useful resources:
• WHO page on FGM: www.who.int
• UNICEF page on FGM: www.unicef.org
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