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Vizag,
India
Good news! The Women's Vocational School is in the final stages of construction. Best of all, the building will be debt free upon completion! We expect to begin classes as scheduled in June 1998. Still needed are the funds to purchase beds, desks, stools, sewing machines, typewriters, etc. |
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| The Women's Vocational School building exterior near completion |
Kisii Kenya, East Africa
Our program to combat female genital mutilation among the Abugusii people group has achieved a good deal of measurable success. Because of the serious political implications and controversial nature of the FGM issue we had to move tactfully and with sensitivity. Had we used any other approach our teams, who are not members of the Kisii community, would have been unable to convince the communities' leadership of the merits of our program and instead been placed in great danger.
Having achieved a good reputation, we now have the confidence and support of the members of Parliament, District Social Services Department, including the children's department and education department all of whom have publicly joined our campaign to abolish FGM.
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| Unwed teenage mother |
Practically Speaking
Our education programs also achieved an overwhelming response from participants that included the following: 180 adolescent mothers attended a workshop to learn about the health consequences of FGM, 20 women marched in a peaceful demonstration, 30 Christian leaders committed to become involved, 45 girls below eleven who were already circumcised participated in a group discussion which led to the formation of information clubs in schools, 65 women met to develop a suitable curriculum for teaching girls at church and at home about FGM, 11 churches invited our team members to speak on FGM, the Safari Puppeteers performed their anti circumcision message in schools and on the streets, 100 T-shirts, 1000 posters and 1000 pamphlets were printed and distributed to teens, four strong Anti-Circumcision Clubs using drama and counseling have started in schools, 50 clinicians and medical students at the Kisii hospital viewed slides and a video on the effects of circumcision, etc.
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This list highlights many of our activities which have changed the minds
of numerous adults and at least seventy children.
The program will continue for another year. "They don't circumise in Kisii" anymore is our goal. |
| Micro-credit helped these women make "Tye & Dye" materials. | The complete final report with pictures is available for a small fee. |
Take me to page 4 of the January-March 1998 Newsletter
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