Community Education on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM/C) and livelihood Support

Over the years Candlelight has been playing a leading and active role in the campaign of the female genital mutilation (FGM/C) in Somaliland. Different approaches have been employed to increase the understanding of the communities regarding the issue and acceleration of its abandonment. The following have been the main methods used:

Health (risk) approach
Legal approach
Religious approach,
Human rights approach,
An integrated development approach of mainstreaming FGM/C issue into programmes.

Some of the key activities that Candlelight carried out through these approaches include; awareness campaigns, TV debates with professional, religious and traditional leaders, sensitization training for community education committees (CECs), teachers, parents, and youth. It is worth noting, that these efforts have resulted in a significant improvement in attitudes of the communities towards the practice. In addition, Candlelight created a networking mechanism and established good working relations with line ministries, such as the Ministry of Labor & Social Affairs, Ministry of Endowment & Religious Affairs and Ministry of Health for the purpose of having a common understanding and united voice of campaigning for the total abolition of FGM/C, as well as advocating for the development of a National FGM Policy. On the other hand, a number of encouraging achievements have been made over the past decades. A good indication is that the different communities groups, particularly the youth have realized the negative complications of FGM/C, and therefore prefer marrying women/girls who had not undergone FGM/C operation. The subject has been a taboo, but is now discussed/debated openly

Project overall goal:

A community free from female genital mutilation (FGM/C) that enjoys the fullness of life

Specific Objective :

To increase community knowledge on the health, psychological, social, economic and cultural consequences of FGM/C through training and awareness creation.
To increase access for underprivileged poor girls/women in underserved areas (specifically 7 villages in the district of Sheikh) to literacy/numeracy with the aim of improving their social conditions and self-esteem.
To alleviate poverty and mitigate the vulnerability of agro-pastoral communities to adverse climatic conditions in seven villages in the District of Sheikh through enhanced capacity (by providing trainings) water sources rehabilitation, agricultural and environmental interventions.

Project Period : Jan 2013 – Jan 2017

Targeted Locations: Sheikh, Suuqsade, Go’da Yar, Kalwaraabe, Kulmiye, Dubur, Gugux and Alaaule

Expected Results:

Community of Sheikh town and surrounding villages participate in the process of design, implementation and evaluation of the project
Community of Sheikh town and surrounding rural villages participate in the different selection processes and formation of beneficiary groups such as community education committees (CECs), teachers, students peer groups, rural village anti-FGM/C committees, household parent and religious leaders (scholars)
63 community education committees (CEC) members from existing committees sensitized on the hazards of FGM/C
60 school teachers (30% female) received awareness training on FGM/C and its complications.
6 Students peer groups are established with a and trained in six schools in sheikh town (15 members each) with total ( 120 students of which 50% girls)
Students in higher primary and secondary school in Sheikh town of age between 14-25 received awareness on FGM/C and its complications (approx. 3,500, of which 40% are girls),
60 Religious leaders and 60 womenreligious teachers in Sheikh town received training of trainers (TOT) on FGM/C awareness and its complications.
60 Selected group of adult boys and girls (60 in total, 50% female) and made aware and sensitized on the dangers of FGM/C (in separate workshops)
60 Health workers and traditional birth attendants (TBAs) of which 80% are female are sensitized on FGM/C complications.

Main component Activities:

Sensitization workshops and trainings given to different sectors of the community in Sheikh District on the elimination of the harmful effects of FGM/C
Livelihood programs to alleviate poverty and mitigate the vulnerability of agro-pastoral communities in Sheikh District.
Seven literacy and numeracy classes are organized in eight rural villages in Sahil region

Funded by: KNH

Project photo: