Mutilation Free Manyatta troupe
Channel: Patrick Firouzian
Date: 2015-09-03

see www.globalroots.org for details on our programs

West Mara’s first Mutilation Free Manyatta (MFM)
Kipas manyatta is a small Maasai settlement bordering the Maasai Mara national park in Kenya. One village among hundreds, but this manyatta is different as its among the first one to be labeled "Mutilation Free Manyatta". Just 3 years ago, girls between 7 and 12 were forcefully mutilated then married, living them no option to reach their potential and worst, risking a horrible death. After our June 2015 oversight visit, we are pleased to announce that today, as a result of the many education outreaches conducted by government and non government organizations, the village leaders willingly decided to no longer subject their youth to forced genital cutting. Instead, they can chose to marry later, get an education and return to their mandate once they have learned skills which will benefit their entire community.
in 2015, Global Roots initiated an outreach program in a form of a play performed by 10 of the 72 refugees of Carole’s shelter, an organization we support since 2010. Led by Mary Kuruta, coordinated by Anthony Kigondu and Lucy Odhiambo, the girls sang and danced and played scenes to demonstrate in a humorous way how an educated girl brings more value to a community. The sensitive message, carried out through music, jokes and and laughter resonated to most villagers and motivated us to expand this program to the remote mandates where girls are still subjected to the unnecessary practice of FGM.