January-March 1999 Newsletter Page 1: Season's Greeting from India and Kenya, giving, volunteering, defense, altruism, nonprofit, human rights foundation, advocacy, ethics, community, charity, humanity, betterment, organization, committed, defending, dignity, women, worldwide, activists, protest, condemn, actions, individuals, power, abuse, helpless humanity, non-governmental agency, participate, programs, improve, economic, political, future, reaper

________________________________________________________________________ Vol. 5. Issue 1 ----------- Quarterly Newsletter ------------------ January-March 99

Season's Greetings

Together we are
making a difference

Our recent trip to Kenya, East Africa, proved to be a wonderfully enriching experience. A friendly group of enthusiastic folks, who found it difficult to believe that we would ever make the 12,000 mile journey from America to visit the community of Kisii, greeted us.
The project we have sponsored for the past two years has now become a community campaign and it is our humbling privilege to publish excerpts from the following reports describing the results of our efforts during 1998 on behalf of our African teams.

Community leadership team attends strategy meeting

Gusii Association of FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) Advocates of Change (GAFGMAC)
     "This association has been formed by the Getembe Division Community members. It has come about due to information that has spread through a series of meetings that have been organized by the Kenya Female Advisory Organization under the leadership of its Executive Director Dolphine M.A. Okech and sponsored by A Woman´s Voice, International.

     "The following is a list of committee members: Mr. James Nyangoto, Mr. John Nyakundi, Mrs. Mary Ratemo, Mr. Evans Onsembe, Mr. Peter Gichana, Mrs. Eunice Onyancha, Mrs. Isabella Oyaro, Mr. Elijah Ondoro, Mr. Booker Mbiti.

     "Our vision is to have a society free from female genital mutilation (FGM) practice especially the Gusii community and elsewhere it is practiced."

This circumcisor received an agricultural loan to join the campaign.

Several elderly women who perform the ritual were given micro-credit loans in exchange for their cooperation. We plan to continue this program to other circumcisors since the ritual that takes place early in December is their only source of income for the entire year.

Mr. Christopher Nchore and his daughter Malerie (pictured left) have taken the bold step of becoming ardent spokespersons. They have a compelling message and are challenging others within the community to follow their example by abandoning the practice of female circumcision.

Final estimates from the three groups actively working to abolish the practice were unavailable at the time of publication. However, Mr. Nchore stated that currently over two hundred other families had joined them in their decision and refused to undergo the ritual.

Mr. Christopher Nchore and his daughter Malerie

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