SI Woking & District organised a Soroptimist Action event on 20 June 2019 at Trinity Church in Woking: a showing of ‘In the Name of Your Daughter’, a documentary by Giselle Portenier about the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) in Tanzania. The film is not always easy to watch but proved illuminating about the ritual, its origins, patterns and how to eliminate it.
The film was brought to us by Julian and Ann of the Tanzania Development Trust. We were really impressed by the support given by the Tanzania Development Trust to the efforts in the Mara Region to eliminated female genital mutilation.
The very attractive items brought from Tanzania to sell during the evening proved irresistible – so we are delighted to say that the Hope for Girls and Women, Tanzania NGO, which leads the campaign against FGM in the Mara Region, will receive a contribution of £242.50.
This event was a follow-up to the visit we organised a few years ago: Rhobi Samwelly, head of the No! FGM Campaign in the Mara Region of Tanzania, came to raise awareness for the campaign, which was in its early stages. Since then, several Safe Houses have been built.
FGM is part of a traditional way of organising society, and like superstitions, people apply rituals many generations after they were created, without knowing why or questioning them. FGM is illegal in Tanzania, but the scattered population in extensive rural areas makes it hard for the government to enforce the law. The Hope for Girls and Women, Tanzania NGO puts on roadshows throughout the year to explain to families why cutting is bad for girls. It works with the local police to help girls escape during the cutting season, with the aim of reconciling the girls with their families afterwards. But if girls are cut, the police will seek to take parents and cutters to court. The NGO has safe houses where girls rejected by their families can stay long-term and continue their education.
This event was part of our Soroptimist Action. The recent ‘Tanzania Economic Update, The Power of Investing in Girls, Educating Girls and Ending Child Marriage in Tanzania’ published by the World Bank says: “Child marriage, early childbearing and limited access to education have significant negative effects on girls, their families and the country.” Helping girls to avoid being cut and to continue their education meets our aim of helping girls and women to achieve their full potential.
Our photo shows Julian and Ann of Tanzania Development Trust with 2019-20 President Carolyn.