Story

60 grandmother leaders will be empowered to protect girls against female genital mutilation (FGM), a very harmful practice. Innovative grandmother leadership training gives them the knowledge and confidence to collectively mobilize their communities against FGM. Empowered grandmother leaders have already put a stop to FGM in 40 communities in southern Senegal. Training grandmother leaders is a sustainable and effective way to stop FGM.

Impact

Long-term change in FGM requires changing engrained socio-cultural norms. Grandmothers are norm-setters and enforcers so they must be key targets for change. Biases against grandmothers blind some to their potential as change agents. GMP views grandmothers as an abundant resource for sustained change. With an approach based on respect and dialogue, we have seen grandmothers change. Changing FGM attitudes of girls and mothers is important but long-term change requires that grandmothers change.

Challenge

80% of girls in southern Senegal undergo FGM, a deep-seated cultural practice. In rural areas FGM is a social norm followed by virtually all families. Girls are the victims but alone they cannot change the practice. This tradition is passed on mainly by grandmothers who view it as necessary in girls' lives. Most programs view grandmothers as the problem and don't involve them. GMP understands that grandmothers can be part of the solution given their status and authority in communities.

Organizer

Updates

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