WEZESHA WASICHANA (enable girls) CHAPTER (Maa translation, Naidimie Ntonyie Oloibortoto)

In a recent activity held earlier, on the International Day of zero tolerance on FGM, Otto Benecker foundation together with its collaborating partners (Ray of Care, Imarisha Kenya and Osiligi health center visited Nguruman, in Kajiado to raise awareness on the effects of FGM during the February 6^th 2021 celebrations. The event happened at Oloibartoto Location, at Kenya Evangelicah Lutheran Church. The next visit scheduled for July 16th-17th aims at following up on the resolutions that were past by the local leaders and partners.

The main problem among teen girls was FGM, currently practiced openly in Kenya and across the border in Tanzania.

Among key highlights in the next meeting will be:

·         Find solutions to SRHR/MH and FGM challenges:

1.       Train both boy and girl child so that they can be on the same level of understanding issues
2.       Community members to collaborate and utilize local resources to solve some key challenges.
3.       Find alternatives to girls' challenges as lack of school fees, GBV at home and discrimination     that could be challenged through community dialogues.
4.       Organize exchange programs where teenage girls meet other girls and learn from each other.
5.      A follow up on what girls vowed:
6.      Wezesha wasichana Oloibortoto chapter was formed to support girls in safe   spaces, champion end to FGM in Nguruman and community leaders would start   community dialogues to address various challenges.

Some of the teen girls at Oloibortoto, Nguruman village, 2021